Not since 1975 had Mansfield Town reached the fifth round of English football’s most famous knockout cup competition.
Not for more than half a century have the followers of this unfashionable League One club experienced such delight.
It explains much; the fervour, the roar and the raw emotion which greeted the final whistle from the 3,500 travelling Stags supporters.
‘Yellow, yellow, yellow!’ they chanted over and again in celebration of a famous success which saw Nigel Clough’s League One side come from behind to win.
It was no more than they deserved.
Josh Laurent put Burnley ahead in the 21 st minute after some neat footwork and simple finish – but Mansfield fought bravely throughout and were dramatically rewarded in the second half.
Louis Reed celebrates scoring for Mansfield Town in their brilliant FA Cup upset
The visitors belied their status in League One to defeat Premier League opposition
The away fans were loving life as they watched their Premier League opponent’s chances in the FA Cup go belly up
Scott Parker cut a disconsolate figure on the touchline after watching his side lose
Rhys Oates levelled with a superb header in the 53rd minute and captain Louis Samuel Reed sent the travelling army into raptures with a stunning 25-yard free-kick.
The romance of the FA Cup was in plentiful supply on a day that will live long in the memory for Clough and his players, not to mention the jubilant Mansfield supporters.
Having dumped out Sheffield United with a 4-3 win at Bramall Lane in the previous round, Mansfield went one better by embarrassing Premier League Burnley at Turf Moor.
It was a disaster for Scott Parker’s Clarets, who were booed off by their own supporters again having been beaten by West Ham seven days earlier.
Although a dramatic 3-2 win at Crystal Palace in midweek gave Burnley their first Premier League victory in 17 games, this horror show an unwelcome revert to type.
Parker was already struggling to fend off brickbats from his own supporters; this humiliation he could have done without.
He made nine changes for this tie and saw his side lead when some neat passing culminated in Lyle Foster finding Laurent, who cut inside before slotting home left-footed from close range.
Yet Mansfield were not fazed and they were rewarded for their industry and endeavour after the break.
Reed curled in a stunning free-kick for Mansfield as they fought back from a goal down
The League One side applauded their supporters who made the trip to Turf Moor
Reed celebrates with his team-mates after scoring what proved to be the winner
Their leveller came when Kyle Knoyle delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank and Oates rose superbly to plant a firm header past Max Weiss, much to the delight of the Mansfield fans behind the goal.
Roared on by their huge following, the Stags struck a famous winner in the 80 th minute when Reed stepped up to curl home a beautiful right-foot free-kick from 25 yards.
Burnley pushed for an equaliser which never came as substitute Zian Flemming blasted over wastefully late on.
