Grimsby Town 1-0 Burton Albion: Lee Richardson knocks League One Brewers out of FA Cup

Grimsby Town sub Lewis Richardson scored just three minutes after coming on as the Mariners upset League One side Burton to reach the FA Cup fourth round for the first time in 23 years.

The on-loan Burnley teenager scored the only goal of the game on 76 minutes.

Harry Clifton exchanged passes down the right then ran on to beat Burton keeper Jordan Amissah with a shot that luckily deflected in off Richardson.

It span just inside Amissah's left upright to win a tense third-round tie.

In front of an ecstatic home crowd at Blundell Park, it earned the League Two side a deserved place in Sunday afternoon's draw as Paul Hurst's side downed League One opposition for the third successive round. They also disposed of Plymouth Argyle (5-1 in round one) and won 2-1 at Cambridge in round two.

• Watch all the goals from the FA Cup third round

Burton, 22nd in League One, controlled the early stages in a game of few chances.

Home keeper Max Crocombe had to be alert to tip over from Burton defender Cameron Borthwick-Jackson before producing another save when Deji Oshilaja took aim.

At the other end, Brendan Kiernan and Kieran Green were both denied while Michee Efete went close from a set-piece that was inadvertently turned behind by Grimsby team-mate Niall Maher.

Kiernan spurned a golden chance to put Grimsby ahead when combining with Otis Khan before sending a left-footed attempt wide.

But when Kiernan was replaced by Richardson, Grimsby, 16th in League Two, made the decisive breakthrough with a match-winning moment of fortune.

On his 200th appearance, captain for the day Clifton linked well with Efete and powered a low right-foot effort goalwards, but it deflected off Richardson's rear to beat new loan signing Amissah on his Burton debut.

Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I don't know if it was nerves, but the first half was poor. We were edgy. In the second half the lads did more of what we asked and we were well on top.

"It wasn't the prettiest of games, a battling performance with sprinkles of quality. We waited a long time for the goal but we persevered, got the goal and got another clean sheet.

"The goal went in off Lewis's backside apparently. I presumed it had taken a deflection, just wasn't sure who. It somehow hit his bum and found the back of the net."

Burton Albion boss Dino Maamria told BBC Radio Derby:

"I knew it was going to be really close. but we ended up second best in that battle, although their goal was a deflection.

"In the first half we totally dominated, without creating any clear-cut chances. But, in the second half, the wind was blowing and they played the conditions really well.

"January is never an easy window but we are doing our best. Getting the goalkeeper in was a good start and there are certain other areas where we lack numbers and need to strengthen."