The PA announcer was stating the obvious but, nevertheless, “Preston advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals” was met with a tumultuous roar from the home faithful. No Preston fan has heard that line since 1966 but a dominant display made it a reality. Milutin Osmajic, almost inevitability, was central to the dismantling of Burnley.
Osmajic was accused of racially abusing the Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri when the teams met here a fortnight ago. He scored Preston’s second and repaid the taunts from the away fans by cupping his ears in celebration in front of them. Robbie Brady had ignited the tie with a superb free-kick and Will Keane sealed a deserved victory after a fine team move.
Burnley, fielding nine changes to their last outing, conceded more goals in one afternoon against their Lancashire rivals than they had done all year. Scott Parker’s sadness, however, went beyond a cup exit. “It makes me sad that Hannibal missed out today,” said the Burnley manager, who decided to leave the former Manchester United player out of his matchday squad due to the ongoing investigation into his allegations against Osmajic, which the Preston striker denies.
“I kept asking myself whether it was the right thing to do but the decision was fundamentally about protecting a young boy.” Chants from the home crowd asking whether Hannibal was watching Burnley’s first defeat in 24 games backed up the call.
Burnley’s players refused to shake the Montenegro international’s hand before kick-off while the away fans in the Bill Shankly Stand booed his every touch. “The players decided that was the stance they would take and I was fully supportive when I found out,” said Parker.
Two league games this season between Preston and Burnley, 15th and third in the Championship respectively, had ended in goalless stalemates and for 30 minutes they appeared on course for another. Preston were the more determined, cohesive unit as Burnley failed to establish any rhythm. But neither keeper had been tested before Brady struck.
The hosts were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out after the Burnley left-back, Lucas Pires, collected a booking for clattering into Brad Potts. Perfect territory for the cultured left foot of Brady. The Republic of Ireland international swept an exquisite free-kick over the wall and into the top corner of Vaclav Hladky’s goal. Brady declined to celebrate against his former club but his first FA Cup goal was one to savour.
Luca Koleosho had two decent chances in the first half for Burnley but dragged one wide and saw the other deflected wide after Freddie Woodman had missed Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick into a crowded area. By then Preston had the cushion of a second goal and Osmajic the moment he craved.
The referee, John Brooks, played a good advantage when Ryan Ledson went down holding his face after being caught by a Maxime Estève clearance. Potts threaded the loose ball behind an exposed defence and Osmajic ran clear to drill a clinical finish under Hladky.
“If he wasn’t professional enough to do a job, he would not have played, simple as that,” said the Preston manager, Paul Heckingbottom, who had asked the striker whether he wanted to play.
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Burnley improved briefly in the second half and Woodman denied the substitute Zian Flemming with a fine reflex save. But Preston deservedly extinguished any hope of a recovery for the Premier League promotion contenders in style. Stefan Thordarson played a superb ball out of defence to Andrew Hughes, surging forward on the left. The substitute steered a first-time cross along the six-yard box and Keane was perfectly placed to convert from close range. A first quarter-final place in 59 years was secure.
Heckingbottom said: “I only found out about the record this week and found it hard to believe for a club with this history and given the teams Preston have had. It is a big deal for the club.”
