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It really hadn't looked likely during a dire second half performance when we'd failed to create anything of note, but Fletcher came up with the goods and it will be our name in the draw for the 3rd round.
Hartlepool had beaten Coventry in the previous round and were confident they could claim another scalp from a higher division, and this was heightened when Owen Coyle revealed his starting line up showing ten changes from the side that had beaten Manchester United and Everton in the previous six days.
Only Andre Bikey remained in the side, presumably due to the lack of central defenders in the absence of both Steven Caldwell and Michael Duff, although Duff was playing in the reserves against Everton.
It meant competitive debuts for Richard Eckersley, David Edgar and Brian Easton, a first start in Burnley colours for Fernando Guerrero and for goalkeeper Diego Penny a first appearance since the opening day of the 2008/09 season. The bench was laden with seven of the team that had played in the two big Premier League wins, only Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle and Chris McCann weren't involved.
Joey Gudjonsson led the side out and lined up in the middle in the 4-4-2 formation that Owen Coyle had favoured during the pre-season, and everything looked good in the opening period of the game.
Chris Eagles was involved twice, having one chance himself and then setting one up for Guerrero, but neither of them found the target. It only seemed a matter of time before we went in front but our domination didn't last and Hartlepool soon found their way into the game.
We did get the ball in the net when Guerrero did well to set up Jay Rodriguez, but the striker who scored against Spurs on his last Carling Cup outing was flagged offside. Jay had our best chance of the first half but instead of just putting the ball in the net opted for a fancy flick and the chance went begging.
And it cost us. Instead of going one up we were immediately one down. Pools' Andy Monkhouse got a ball in from the left and we stood and watched as Adam Boyd came between us to score from close range. It was a bad goal to give away and it meant going in at half time with a one goal deficit which would have been worse but for a good save by Penny right on the whistle.
If the first half had been disappointing then the second half got a whole lot worse for us. We looked devoid of ideas and the home side had little difficulty in dealing with anything we could offer.
It came as no surprise when Coyle brought off both strikers just past the hour, and even less surprise when Eagles departed just a few minutes after that. None of those three had offered much and I would suspect Kevin McDonald, who certainly offered no more, would have also been hauled off had we had any more options.
We did improve, but not enough in fairness and as the clock ticked down it seemed just a matter of time before Hartlepool booked their place in the next round. And no one could have denied them that had they done it.
Then with six minutes remaining we got an equaliser out of the blue. Gudjonsson played the ball out to Steven Fletcher and his angled shot from the left was a goal from the minute he hit it.
Burnley surged forward and had at least three chances to go on and win it in 90 minutes, probably the best being Robbie Blake's. He created it all himself with a mazy run before scuffing his shot just wide of the post, almost hitting the steward who had positioned him next to that post for the second half.
Other chances fell to Fletcher and Guerrero, but another would have been so unjust on the home side. So to extra time it went and memories of both Chelsea and Spurs last season.
The six minute surge at the end of normal time was forgotten and we struggled to make any impact again. They hit the woodwork and Penny made a good save as we struggled again, and things went worse when Eckersley was given a second card by inept referee Jon Moss and we were up against it.
But, in the second half of extra time Fletcher struck again after some superb work from Martin Paterson on the left. With very little space he turned to get in a cross and Fletch got between two defenders to head home from close range.
It still wasn't over. Bikey had to clear off the line and then poor Joey got a double dose in the last few minutes. Twice Hartlepool won free kicks within distance of a shot at goal, twice they went for it, twice Joey blocked them and twice he was pole axed. Thankfully he was able to get up both times and see us through to victory.
So we are in the third round again for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. But we were fortunate, very fortunate to come through this one. Still, we're through, and the team likely to start at Stamford Bridge on Saturday got a rest.
Jeff really wasn't feeling too good, and there wasn't a sign of James Brown.
The teams were;
Hartlepool: Scott Flinders, Steve Haslam, Gary Liddle, Sam Collins, Peter Hartley, Leon McSweeney, Antony Sweeney (Jon-Andre Frediksen 97), Ritchie Jones, Andy Monkhouse, Denis Behan, Adam Boyd (Colin Larkin 78). Subs not used: Mark Cook, Neil Austin, Jonny Rowell, Alan Power, Billy Greulich.
Burnley: Diego Penny, Richard Eckersley, David Edgar, Andre Bikey, Brian Easton, Chris Eagles (Robbie Blake 65), Joey Gudjonsson, Kevin McDonald, Fernando Guerrero, Jay Rodriguez (Steven Fletcher 61), Steven Thompson (Martin Paterson 61). Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott.
Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire).
Attendance: 3,501 (including 621 Clarets).