The Grimsby chairman, Jason Stockwood, had dared supporters to dream as his club attempted to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1939. But not even the most diehard of the more than 4,000 Grimbarians who made the 460-mile round trip to the south coast to see two penalties from Gavan Holohan seal a monumental upset against Southampton could have believed this fairytale story.
Accompanied by hundreds of Harry Haddocks – the inflatable mascot that has been present at every big game in the club’s history since they played the holders Wimbledon at this stage of the 1989 competition – the away supporters made it a party atmosphere throughout even after Duje Caleta-Car pulled a goal back midway through the second half.
Despite being the lowest-ranked side left in the Cup and with 65 places separating the two clubs in the league pyramid, it was Paul Hurst’s side who prevailed to set up a showdown in the last eight with Brighton after substitute Theo Walcott’s equaliser late on was ruled out for offside by VAR.
Southampton had tried to stop visiting supporters from bringing their mascot because Premier League grounds usually have a blanket ban on inflatables. But after suggestions from some Grimsby fans that the top-flight club should have bigger fish to fry given their struggles against relegation this season, the hosts relented and Harry Haddock seemed to be everywhere as Hurst and his players took the applause at the final whistle.
The number of empty seats around the rest of the stadium was in marked contrast as Southampton fans perhaps wisely opted to watch on television instead, with the interim manager, Rubén Sellés, having failed to spark a reaction from his players despite making nine changes to the side that lost so tamely to Leeds on Saturday to leave them bottom of the Premier League.
National League playoff winners at Wembley last season, Grimsby are struggling down in the lower reaches of League Two but have beaten three League One teams – including promotion-chasing Plymouth 5-1 – before knocking out Luton in the last round to get to this stage. They now have a Premier League scalp to add to their collection after an evening when everything seemed to go their way from the moment that Sékou Mara’s strike was disallowed for offside after 17 minutes.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany is set to make an emotional return to Manchester City after the clubs were paired together in the FA Cup quarter-final draw.
Former City skipper Kompany, who won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups among his haul of trophies during his 11-year-stay with the club, will take the Clarets to the Etihad Stadium later this month.
The Championship leaders booked their showdown with the reigning English champions minutes before the draw, courtesy of a 1-0 win over League One Fleetwood.
League Two Grimsby’s reward for their shock 2-1 win at top-flight Southampton is a trip to Brighton.
Gavan Holohan’s penalty double either side of half-time produced a huge upset at St Mary’s and left them one win away from a trip to Wembley.
The Mariners, who have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since the second world war, sit in 16th place in the fourth tier, while the Seagulls lie eighth in the Premier League.
Carabao Cup winners Manchester United will entertain top-flight rivals Fulham with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
They had to come from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 at Old Trafford, three days after their Wembley victory over Newcastle.
The final tie will see Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United host second-tier counterparts Blackburn, who beat Leicester City 2-1 on Tuesday night.
FA Cup quarter-final draw in full
Manchester City v Burnley
Manchester United v Fulham
Brighton & Hove Albion v Grimsby Town
Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers
Ties will be played on 17-19 March.
Mislav Orsic then saw his effort curl just past the far post before Mara dribbled a disappointing shot straight at Max Crocombe in the Grimsby goal. But while Southampton dominated possession, it was hard to see from where the breakthrough might come.
The answer came at the other end just before the break when a cross from Joshua Emmanuel almost set up Harry Clifton at the back post. Replays showed Lyanco had diverted the cross with his hand so, after much deliberation at the pitchside monitor and to the delight of the visiting fans, the referee, Thomas Bramall, awarded the spot-kick that was coolly dispatched by Holohan.
The Championship leaders, Burnley, needed a 90th-minute goal from Connor Roberts to edge out the 10 men of League One Fleetwood and advance to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years.
Vincent Kompany’s side played with an extra man for more than 45 minutes after Cian Hayes was sent off in first-half stoppage time, but were in danger of being taken to extra-time by a Fleetwood side who showed why they had come into this match on the back of four straight clean sheets.
When the goal did come it was harsh on the visiting goalkeeper, Jay Lynch, who made fine saves from Halil Dervisoglu and Charlie Taylor in quick succession only to be beaten from close range as Roberts’ flick diverted Vitinho’s shot through a crowded area into the net.
It was reward for a Burnley performance that had seen them dominate possession all night and register 31 attempts at goal against a side playing in the fifth round for the first time.
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Southampton came out of the blocks quickly in the second half as Moussa Djenepo’s shot was deflected wide but the wind was taken out their sails by a moment of madness from Caleta-Car. The Croatian defender tangled with Danilo Orsi as the Grimsby striker chased down a long ball and appeared to shove him in the back, with Bramall this time showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Once again, Holohan made no mistake to send the away fans into raptures.
Sellés threw on James Ward-Prowse and within six minutes Southampton had pulled one back when Caleta-Car finished from close range. John McAtee had a chance to seal it when he raced clear on goal before Walcott was denied his equaliser on a dramatic night to cherish for Stockwood and Grimsby’s delirious fans.
