Lancashire | Burnley exit cup after defeat to League One side

Burnley 1 - 2 Mansfield Town

League One Mansfield Town produced a stirring comeback to dump Premier League strugglers Burnley out of the FA Cup.

Author | Andrew Montgomery 

Stadium | Turf Moor

Burnley looked to have steadied themselves when Josh Laurent put them ahead midway through the first half, but second-half goals from Rhys Oates and the captain Louis Reed turned the tie on its head and sent Mansfield Town through.

The visitors had the first clear opening when the veteran Ashley Barnes slid in to meet Quilindschy Hartman’s cross, only to steer wide from close range. Burnley did make their pressure count after 20 minutes, Laurent showing admirable composure inside the box as he sent Liam Roberts the wrong way before finishing into an empty net for Burnley.

READ MORE | Burnley’s midweek win at Crystal Palace 

Jacob Bruun Larsen then came agonisingly close to ending his wait for a first Burnley goal since arriving from Stuttgart, lifting the ball over Roberts only for Kyle Knoyle to produce an excellent goalline clearance.

Mansfield thought they had equalised before the interval when Oates broke clear and finished neatly, but the effort was ruled out after a foul on Hjalmar Ekdal in the build-up.

The hosts emerged with renewed intent after the break and Oates should have drawn them level when he was gifted a one-on-one following a slip by Ekdal, only to blaze over. He made amends soon after, rising above his marker to head in Knoyle’s cross and restore parity.

Burnley tried to put the pressure on their third tier opposition

Burnley attempted to reassert control, but it was Mansfield who struck the decisive blow. With 10 minutes remaining, Reed bent a superb free-kick beyond the reach of the goalkeeper from 25 yards.

Zian Flemming had a late chance to rescue the tie for Scott Parker’s side when he fired over from close range in stoppage time, but Mansfield held firm to seal a memorable upset.