Second Division Burnley pulled off one of the shocks of the third round when
they dumped Premiership strugglers Derby County out of the FA Cup at Pride
Park.
A 62nd-minute goal from Andy Cooke was enough to take the Lancashire club into
the next round and put further pressure on Derby boss Jim Smith whose team has
now been beaten at home on nine occasions this season.
And Derby could have no complaints about this latest setback because Burnley
thoroughly deserved to avenge their 1992 FA Cup defeat by the East Midlands
club.
Apart from a spell in the first half, Burnley were the better side and after
Cooke had given them the lead, they never looked like losing it.
At the final whistle, the players punched the air in triumph and ran to
celebrate in front of more than 4,500 delirious supporters who had backed their
team magnificently.
Burnley had threatened to pull off a shock from the very first kick of the
game when their commitment caused Derby endless problems with Micky Mellon
almost scoring in the fourth minute.
They continued to rattle the Premiership outfit who again gave the ball away
too often for comfort until Israeli international midfielder Avi Nimni got a
grip of the game in midfield.
He was behind Derby's best moves and almost put the home side in front with a
diving header but keeper Paul Crichton was in outstanding form.
He saved superbly from Nimni, Tony Dorigo and Dean Sturridge as Derby built up
a head of steam at the end of the first half but Burnley hung on and regained
control after the break.
Smith tried to kick start his team with a double substitution but 60 seconds
later, Gordon Armstrong surged down the left and delivered a deep cross which
Cooke met with a stooping header to beat Mart Poom.
From then on, Burnley never gave desperate Derby a sniff with former Spurs
defender Mitchell Thomas marshalling his defence superbly.
Steve Davis was also outstanding and although Derby had plenty of possession,
Crichton hardly had a serious save to make.
Paul Cook could have ended any lingering doubts about the result in the 84th
minute when he was put clear through the middle but he dragged a right foot shot
well wide although it hardly seemed to matter.
Despite three minutes on added time, Burnley's goal was never in any real
danger and the home fans were streaming towards the exits long before Mike Riley
put Derby out of their misery.
Derby now only have Premiership survival to concentrate on but they will need
a vast improvement to stay up while Burnley showed that they will give any team
a scare in the next round.
Teams:
Derby: Poom, Borbokis (Beck 61), Carbonari, Elliott, Dorigo, Burley, Powell, Nimni (Burton 79), Kinkladze (Johnson 61), Delap, Sturridge.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Bohinen.
Booked: Delap.
Burnley: Crichton, West, Davis, Thomas, Armstrong (Jepson 83), Mellon, Cook (Johnrose 87), Little, Mullin, Cooke, Payton (Branch 77).
Subs Not Used: Weller, Brass.
Booked: Thomas, Cook, Armstrong.
Goals: Cooke 62.
Att: 23,400
Ref: M Riley (Leeds).
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