Lincoln City prepare for biggest FA Cup match in over 115 years

Lincoln City travel to Burnley this weekend to face their biggest match in the FA Cup for over 115 years.

The Imps have been on a wondrous cup run this season, having already beaten Championship sides Brighton and Ipswich, as well as League One Oldham. Their reward for three acts of giant killing is a trip to face the Premiership side in the Fifth Round.

Lincoln haven’t featured in the last sixteen of the competition since the 1901/02 season, when they lost to Derby County, before the final was even played at Wembley.

The previous two rounds have seen them face weakened sides from both Brighton and Ipswich, but Burnley won’t be taking the same chance. Manager Sean Dyche attended last week’s 3-2 home win against Woking, and for Burnley it represents a good chance to progress to the next round and move closer to European football.

Lincoln have sold their allocation of 3,200 tickets, significantly less than the 7,000 first requested.

Despite being a top-flight side Burnley’s Turf Moor ground holds under 22,000 people which meant many Imps fans missed out.

However, the club have arranged a big screen so fans without a golden ticket can watch the action unfold at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln will be without FA Cup hero Theo Robinson who made a deadline day move to Southend United, and the responsibility for goals will fall onto burly striker Matt Rhead, and new loan signing Dayle Southwell.

Southwell arrived on-loan from Wycombe, and is eligible to play after just missing out on the squad narrowly beaten by Tottenham in the last round.

Win, lose or draw the City of Lincoln should be proud of its FA Cup heroes for getting this far in the competition.

Watch the action unfold yourself live on BT Sport, Saturday at 12.30pm.