Blues blunted and Woking walloped as the Clarets and the Imps get ready for the big one

The next match on the Road to Wembley from Scotland will take place next Saturday when Burnley play Lincoln City in round 5 of the FA Cup. There have been four previous FA Cup meetings between the two clubs, with Lincoln City winning on the first occasion in 1904-05, but Burnley winning through on the following three times. Lincoln City are into the last 16 for the fourth time in their FA Cup history, the first being 130 years ago in 1887. However, the Imps are yet to make the quarter finals. Burnley have won the FA Cup once, in 1914, but they have not gone beyond the fifth round for 14 years. Over the last two days the modern day Imps and Clarets were in league action as they completed their preparations for the big match next weekend.

In Lincolnshire yesterday the Imps won 3-2 against a stubborn Woking team. Lincoln City are now 3 points clear at the top of the Vanarama National League with a game in hand and only 16 games left in the season. Promotion is looking very likely and the locals are getting very excited and have dubbed this unforgettable season as a journey on the ‘Lincoln Loco’.

All aboard! Cowley's campaign is an unforgettable journey

The team are still firmly on course to extend their historic run in the FA Cup, they have promotion in their sights and they are also in the quarter finals of the FA Trophy. This is a golden era at Sincil Bank. Two of the goals yesterday were scored by cult hero Matt Rhead. Rhead is a monster of a centre forward and one look at his menacing demeanour and I would imagine that opposition centre backs would just want to run away.

Oooh he is big lad! Cult hero and brute of a man - The Imps' Matt Rhead

The attendance at Sincil Bank yesterday was more than 5500 and all kinds of non league attendance records are being broken by the 2016-17 Imps. Their allocation of tickets for the FA Cup tie next weekend sold out in the twinkling of an eye.

Earlier today in Lancashire, Burnley also continued their impressive home form. Premier Division league leaders Chelsea were in town and they were held to a 1-1 draw. The Blues took an early lead but this was cancelled out by a wonder strike from Robbie Brady on his home debut for Burnley.

Perfection! Brady's free kick beats the Chelsea wall and heads for the top corner

Scotwatch: Burnley have 3 players with Scottish connections. Ex Rangers player Joey Barton and Scots international George Boyd played the full 90 minutes and by all accounts played well. Scott Arfield, who hails from West Lothian, played the last 20 minutes of the match having been brought on as a sub. All 3 are expected to be fully involved next weekend. I missed the Burnley v Chelsea match on the telly as I was at the tension ridden 0-0 draw between my beloved Hearts and the bitter local rivals Hibs in the Scottish FA Cup at Tynecastle.

So the attention now turns to the FA Cup. Neither Burnley nor Lincoln City have a midweek game so the players will be raring to go next Saturday. I fully expect both clubs to field their strongest teams for this intriguing cup tie. Burnley are well clear of relegation so can prioritise the FA Cup. The Imps are loving their FA Cup adventure and are seeking to make football history and become the first non league team to reach the quarter final of the FA Cup. I will be there and thanks to my good friend Peter Tissington I have now got my ticket sorted. I will be in amongst the Burnley fans. I am looking forward to it with great anticipation and I can guarantee it will be a better match than the Hibs v Hearts game earlier today!

Come back here in midweek for more news of the build up to the big game … and keep reading.