Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley: ‘FA Cup draw is win-win’

Lincoln City assistant manager Nicky Cowley welcomes the club’s FA Cup success but insists it is promotion to the Football League that would be a “life-changer” for the club.

Championship high-flyers Huddersfield frustrated Manchester City and had a first-half attempt disallowed before holding on for a scoreless draw at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Theo Robinson made sure of the victory in the 85th minute, prompting a pitch invasion at the final whistle.

Premier League champions Leicester City’s horror season continued, bundled out of the FA Cup by League One Millwall at the New Den. Taking Lincoln back into the Football League is the primary objective.

“The real assuredness that comes with growth as a footballer, particularly in the Premier League, is the bit that needs to be added, because we want a future where we are the favourites more often”.

“We said it was probably a one in a 100 chance and it had to [come down to] that one opportunity”, he told BT Sport. Forget about the money – Lincoln will get about $700,000 plus TV money for reaching the last eight – this is all about a footballer in the lower reaches of the game getting his time in the spotlight and I love it.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche made six changes to his starting XI and was quickly made aware that his side were in for a scrap as Lincoln’s Nathan Arnold squared for Jack Muldoon to sweep a first-time shot over the bar.

Lincoln’s hero Raggett said he and his teammates had always believed they were capable of extending their fairy-tale run.

Luckily, justice prevailed as Lincoln went on to win the game 1-0 thanks to a dramatic last-minute header from Sean Raggett. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Lincoln did show the Clarets opportunities from mistakes but the opposition failed to make the majority and that would come back to haunt them. “They’ve gone in full-time at Lincoln and are making a good show of it”, he said. Missiles appeared to be thrown by both sets of supporters while police horses were called upon to defuse the situation.

“I can’t condone that, but if I have not seen it I am not going to say anything negative because you have to see something to make a realistic judgement”. That or they get a 0-0 draw and play a replay at home.

“We’re so professional and we never let our standards slip, so I don’t see any reason why that will happen on Saturday”. “But for sure we are in these two competitions”.