FA Cup: Burnley 1-2 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town overturned a first-half deficit to stun Premier League Burnley 2-1 and reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 1975. Josh Laurent had put the hosts ahead, but Rhys Oates and captain Louis Reed delivered a second-half turnaround that sparked wild celebrations from the visitors.
Second-half fightback turns the tie on its head
Burnley looked in control after Laurent's composed finish midway through the opening period, a composed finish that saw the striker feint and round the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net. The Clarets threatened to extend their lead earlier when Ashley Barnes miscued from close range following a low cross, a miss that proved costly.
Mansfield, who had a potential leveller ruled out before the break when Oates was penalised for a foul in the build-up, began the second half with urgency. Oates spurned an early one-on-one after a slip from Hjalmar Ekdal but made amends when he rose highest to head home from Kyle Knoyle's cross, sparking belief in the visiting ranks.
The momentum swung decisively in the Stags' favour with 10 minutes to go. Reed, the Mansfield captain, produced a stunning 25-yard free-kick that curled beyond the wall and out of the goalkeeper's reach to complete a hard-earned turnaround and send the League One side into raptures.
Burnley chances, changes and growing concerns
A day of missed opportunities underlined Burnley's struggles. Jacob Bruun Larsen came close to breaking his drought for the club when he dinked over an onrushing keeper, only to be denied by a vital goalline clearance from Knoyle. Loum Tchaouna and Barnes also wasted gilt-edged chances, with rustiness from a heavily changed XI exposed in front of goal.
The manager handed nine changes to the side that had produced a morale-boosting comeback in midweek, and while the reshuffle offered minutes to squad players, it left the team lacking the cutting edge that might have put the game beyond the visitors. Statistically, the hosts finished with an expected goals tally of 3. 82 — their highest of the season — but were able to convert only once.
Stoppage-time drama offered a final opportunity for the home side when Zian Flemming blazed over from six yards, but Mansfield held firm and showed the resilience and organisation required to see out a famous result.
Milestone night for Mansfield, tough questions for Burnley
The victory marks a significant milestone for Mansfield, who will be playing in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in more than half a century. Their disciplined defending, set-piece threat and willingness to commit bodies forward in the second half were the keys to success, and captain Reed's late intervention provided a storybook ending.
For Burnley, the result raises fresh questions about consistency and selection. The inability to turn a high-quality chance count into goals will fuel debate around rotation and tactics as the Premier League side faces a difficult spell in the league. With fans and club figures reflecting on a frustrating afternoon, the focus now turns to how the squad responds over the coming fixtures.
Mansfield's players and staff celebrated long after the final whistle, reflecting on a rare and memorable cup run that will be remembered by the club and its supporters for years to come. For the visitors, progression brings the reward of another high-stakes tie and a chance to keep the romance of the FA Cup alive this season.
