After all, this is very much a young Burnley youth team with only three second year scholars able to play, and up against one of the best clubs in the country and one that is, without doubt, one of the strongest at this level.
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| Burnley about to kick off at Old Trafford |
Things changed when Manchester United confirmed the game would be played at Old Trafford. That news certainly didn't make the task any easier but I just thought how good it would be for our lads to taste playing at the biggest league ground in the country.
They just had to be excited by that opportunity to play there, and none more so than self confessed United fan Jason Gilchrist.
And so to tonight, on a cold night in Manchester, with the Burnley fans tucked into the corner of the ground, exactly where we were when we played there in the Premier League. There was a healthy following. I just hoped they wouldn't expect too much from them.
My only wish was that our lads would go out there and enjoy it and give of their best. No one could ask more of them. I think they did enjoy it and I'm certain they gave of their best. What a special night it turned out to be as the young Clarets, who led 1-0 until just before half time, twice came from behind to level before scoring an extra time winner.
The 4-3 win, I can assure you, was no fluke. It was deserved, fully merited and, although Gilchrist was again the name on everyone's lips with his fourth hat trick of the season, it was a night when every single one of our players can stand proud at what they've achieved.
They came down to celebrate with the fans at the end, joining in with the chants of "Terry Pashley's Claret & Blue Army" and loving every minute as the magnitude of the achievement started to sink in.
Down there with them was central defender Jack Errington. Jack's out for the season having had heart surgery. He came in for the ill Tom Anderson last season against Fulham and Blackburn and although he could play no active part tonight it was brilliant to see him celebrate with the rest of the players.
Manchester United started the brighter of the two sides but failed to create anything of note and the first real chance of the game came our way. Cameron Howieson, who looks so much stronger than he did last season, made a good run before playing the ball to Jamie Frost, one of our under 16 players.
Frost chipped the ball forward for Gilchrist but for once his touch wasn't the best and it allowed Pierluigi Gollini to come out and gather the ball.
We were starting to give as much as we were getting but had a lucky escape when Jack Barmby headed onto the roof of the net. That was as near as they'd come but in the next attack we took the lead.
Luke Conlan, so impressive at left back tonight, won a free kick down the left wing. Nathan Lowe took it, found Howieson who headed powerfully into the net for the first Burnley goal I've seen at Old Trafford in almost 37 years.
We held that lead right up to the 45 minutes but in the one minute of stoppage time added they drew level with a very good goal from James Weir.
That was a blow, and we found it tough going at the start of the second half. Just past the hour we found ourselves behind. Callum Jakovlevs, who was to be a late hero, punched clear. It came back and Charlie Holt headed off the line but it went to Nicholas Ioannou who hammered home.
Was that it? Were we about to succumb to the Premier League club? Not on your life. Gilchrist got clear, Gollini but with the ball in the air the prolific scorer got a final touch almost right on the line.
He went crazy but it looked as if it had counted for nothing when Donald Love restored United's lead with a shot from just outside the box.
So, we came storming back again and got another equaliser with Gilchrist getting his second as he latched on to a back pass to finish well.
That goal took us into extra time and I wondered just how our much younger team would cope. Players of both sides were going down with cramp to make you question the wisdom of players this age being pushed into an extra half hour.
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| The celebrations at the end of a brilliant night |
Even so, we found the energy from somewhere and with around nine minutes of extra time remaining we went in front for the second time and Gilchrist, who scored a hat trick at Boston in this round last year, completed another when he headed home after tremendous work from substitute Brad Jackson down the left.
United tried to get back. Losing and with manager Sir Alex Ferguson there, we expected the fourth official to add on another 20 minutes or so. He added three, but of course we played four.
Twice I thought they'd got an equaliser, but twice Jakovlevs was equal to them.
We screamed for the final whistle and it prompted wild celebrations in the away end and on the pitch.
This really was a special performance. Every single one of them played their part. What a brilliant night it was. Now we can look forward to the next round.
The teams were;
Manchester United: Pierluigi Gollini, Donald Love, Liam Grimshaw, Nicholas Ioannou (Declan Dally 78), Louis Rowley, Jack Barmby (Jack Rudge 53), Ben Pearson (Sam Byrne 114), James Weir, James Wilson, Adnan Januzaj, Mats Daehli. Subs not used: Jonny Sutherland, Kenji Gorre.
Burnley: Callum Jakovlevs, Cameron Dummigan, Charlie Holt, Alex Whitmore, Luke Conlan, Luke Daly (Evan Galvin 110), Kevin Ly (Brad Jackson 63), Nathan Lowe, Cameron Howieson, Jamie Frost (Christian Hill 70), Jason Gilchrist. Subs not used: Conor Mitchell, Andreas Bianga.
Referee: Jamie Waters (West Yorkshire).
Attendance: 3,146.