Non-league Sutton hoofs top-flight hopeful Leeds out of FA Cup
Twenty-eight years after Gander Green Lane hosted one of the most iconic giant-killings in FA Cup history - a 2-1 humbling of 1987 FA Cup holder Coventry City - Sutton United has another scalp for the history books.
Heavy-set manual labourer Jamie Collins converted from 12 yards on 51 minutes after a Leeds United defensive mix-up gifted the non-league host a penalty. The tiring south Londoners were then able to cling on for over 46 minutes to set up the club's first-ever FA Cup fifth-round berth.
The 1-0 win was a nervy affair for Sutton, even when Leeds was reduced to 10 men on 82 minutes following Liam Cooper's second yellow card. The fifth-tier side's boss, Paul Doswell, went for a stroll in the dressing room in the latter stages, clearly struggling with the prospect of surrendering such a monumental feat.
"We train twice a week. On Friday I was on a building site," captain and goal-scoring hero Collins told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We won and hopefully we get a big team in the next round and see what happens."
Sutton follows fellow National League outfit Lincoln City into the final 16 after the Imps kicked Championship leader Brighton & Hove Albion from the fourth round on Saturday. It marked the first time the Sincil Bank outfit had reached the fifth round since 1887.
2 - For the first time since the foundation of the Football League, there will be two non-league clubs in the FA Cup 5th round. Historic.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 29, 2017
The monetary benefits of reaching this late stage of the FA Cup could significantly boost the long-term futures of both Sutton and Lincoln. Not only are both clubs likely to be chosen for television coverage - and will enjoy revenue collected from letting in the cameras - they also have the prospect of sharing gate receipts at stadiums such as Manchester United's 76,000-seater Old Trafford and Arsenal's 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.
Leeds collected 19 points from a possible 24 in the Championship before the shock in Sutton, and now looks to continue its assault on the upper reaches of the division in a trip to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday. Despite the FA Cup setback, promotion to the Premier League is a distinct possibility for Garry Monk's men.
Sutton, meanwhile, remains in cup mode, with Hertfordshire's Boreham Wood visiting next Saturday in the third round of the FA Trophy, a tournament exclusively reserved for non-league clubs.