Image source, Shutterstock
Conor Haughey (right) struck the winning penalty for Fleetwood Town against Arsenal to send the club through to the EFL Cup quarter-final for the first time
ByJay Freeman
BBC Sport England
Given their league positions, form and pedigree there could only have been one winner predicted.
Fleetwood played Arsenal on Tuesday with 83 places separating the teams and most home fans arriving in hope rather than any expectation. But remarkably, it was the hosts who booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final thanks to their penalty shootout win over the Gunners.
For the Cod Army, who won six promotions in 12 years in their impressive journey from non-league, this result will surely be remembered longest of all. Against the reigning Premier League champions, the club from a small seaside town in Lancashire created history in claiming one of the biggest cup upsets ever.
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the hosts the lead after 21 minutes but, after the break, Viktor Gyokeres pulled the visitors level.
And from there, they might have been expected to take charge but Fleetwood remained resolute, prospering from a wasteful performance from Arsenal that included Max Dowman being sent off for kicking out after a robust challenge from Harrison Neal.
Fleetwood, who sit 18th in League Two having won just once in their past eight league games, dared to dream and took the game to penalties, with fans spilling on to the pitch in the after Conor Haughey's decisive spot kick.
"The biggest night in the club's history in terms of opposition coming to town and we've managed to beat the champions," boss Matt Lawlor told Sky Sports in the aftermath of his side's stunning victory.
"I'm a big football fan and I watch National League all the way through to the Premier League, Championship. So for me it was a tough game to prepare for, but I'm just so glad that the lads have the feeling the way they are and took that performance in to make that town, the club, everyone proud."
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, left-back Jake Batty added: "Our league form's not being as good as what we'd want it to be and for some reason cup competitions everyone gets a bit of a fire in their belly. We just came up with some magical moments and obviously that's one to tell the grandkids, isn't it?"
"We've struggled. We're not known as a big club in League Two. We get a few thousand fans each game, and just the buzz around the town, you could see the fans in the shootout and all game.
"That's what we encourage to bring on Saturday. That's what we want on Saturday.
"Why can't we replicate that and get 5,000 fans behind us every game and, and give us that momentum?"
Batty added that on reaching the finals for the first time since their arrival in the English Football League in 2012, they should be "fearless" and hope for a home tie.
"It's unbelievable for the town and hopefully we can get someone else at home and do exactly the same thing," he said.
"I don't think we should be scared of any team."
Image source, Getty Images
Matt Lawlor previously had two caretaker spells in charge of Fleetwood Town and initially returned to the club as part of Pete Wild's coaching staff before being appointed on a permanent basis in March
On 20 April 2024, Fleetwood's relegation from League One was confirmed, capping off a miserable season for the club on the pitch.
That same day, Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux to go top of the Premier League. They would finish that campaign second, but won the title two years later.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood have held their heads above water in League Two - and the league is very much in mind for Lawlor, with his side facing Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
"It's really hard to address the players. I've just said to enjoy it and then we've got a league game on Saturday," he added.
"I didn't want to be the bearer of the reality, but we've got a game."
It was Haughey who ultimately struck the winning penalty to send the hosts through, yet it was goalkeeper Jay Lynch who tipped the shootout in their favour.
He pulled off superb saves to deny Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes and was left hoarse in the aftermath of a stunning victory at a windy Highbury.
It was a victory which he likened to Grimsby's triumph over Manchester United in the competition last season.
"My voice has gone from organising the defence," he told Sky Sports.
"We took heart from Grimsby beating Man Utd last year. We kind of compared it.
"It was a typical night in Fleetwood. We were expecting a storm, we knew the conditions would be horrible, so we thought it might go in our favour.
"It's amazing for the club, the town. Honestly it means everything to everyone."
Fleetwood's win is made all the more impressive when their recent results are taken into consideration.
They had conceded six goals in their two games leading into the tie - first from a 4-2 loss away at Cheltenham and then Saturday's long journey down to Exeter, which culminated in a 2-1 defeat.
"I don't even know my own name right now. My phone is blowing up, and I think I have had about 500 messages in the past half an hour," Fleetwood Town fan Ben said speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I have followed this football club for the past 15 years.
"I was at Exeter on Saturday, I was at Cheltenham last Tuesday night, we were 3-0 down after half an hour, and you question why you follow your team.
"[This is] not just my best night in football, it's the best night of my life. I can't begin to tell you, how happy and buzzing I am, and how much it means to me to have a moment like that for our little football club on the budget that we have, is absolutely remarkable."
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