Accrington Stanley 1 Burnley 0 (aet): Matty Pearson stuns Premier League side to send them crashing out of EFL Cup
League Two minnows KO-ed their top-tier neighbours with a last-gasp goal in second round
MATTY PEARSON was the Stanley hero — stunning Premier League Burnley at the death.
His 120th-minute effort might have been scrappy but nobody in Accrington will care.
Stanley had earlier been taunted with a mocking chorus of ‘You’re just a bus stop in Burnley’ by their more famous neighbours.
But the laughter was nervous as John Coleman’s gutsy outfit made a real go of halting the progress of their top-flight nearest and dearest.
Stanley fight the odds just to survive and they showed true spirit and belief as they exposed the shortcomings of Sean Dyche’s squad who are enjoying the riches at the top table.
Dyche made ten changes from the weekend with only Sam Vokes remaining.
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But the Clarets are thin when it comes to attacking options and he had to play while his club hunt a new forward with the clock ticking.
Burnley started stronger but both Aiden O’Neill and Johann Berg Gudmundsson failed to find a finish to slick early moves.
The League Two minnows were encouraged by those misses and Pearson crashed a shot into the side-netting.
John O’Sullivan then set up Shay McCartan but the home striker completely fluffed his lines.
And Stanley sub Paddy Lacey, a carpet fitter until he turned pro two years ago, had a chance to pull the rug from under the visitors but shot tamely wide.
Burnley sub Andre Gray could have won it in injury-time but he took a Gudmundsson backheel and smashed it straight into Elliot Parish’s body.