TURF Moor might abound with the positivity of a club on the move at the moment, but that sense of progression doesn’t imbue you from being on the wrong end of an FA Cup shock.

Burnley have tended to write their own headlines this season. A model club, a manager earning deserved plaudits and a team causing even the Premier League’s biggest beasts a headache or two.

But the fall from feelgood story to FA Cup laughing stock can be swift and brutal. This is a day Burnley will be desperate to forget. It began with dreams of Wembley and ended in anger and angst.

National League leaders Lincoln City turned this into a battle from minute one. The Clarets fell into the trap immediately and were unable to navigate a way out of it.

That game plan centred around Matt Rhead, an old fashioned centre forward who might not hit high scores on the bleep test but he left his mark on James Tarkowski and Joey Barton in particular.

Within the first 10 minutes Rhead had unceremoniously clattered Barton and been involved in a couple of wrestling matches with Tarkowski. The tone was set.

By that stage the Imps had already missed what they must have thought was their one big chance, Jack Muldoon blazing over from inside the area after being found by Nathan Arnold.

Burnley had chances of their own. Gray’s left-footed shot across goal was saved by Paul Farman, Barton’s cleanly struck volley was well held by the goalkeeper and Scott Arfield fired a half-volley over when well placed 16 yards out after good work from James Tarkowski.

Early in the second half Gray poked a Barton free-kick wide from seven yards but as the afternoon wore on the frustration rose for Burnley and the heat of the battle increased.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Just after the hour Barton and Rhead clashed again. The Clarets midfielder stood on the striker’s foot as he patrolled in front of him and then went down when he ran into his arm. It’s not a clip that Barton will remember with any fondness.

If the plan was to wind Barton up it succeeded. He has been unflappable in his time for Burnley but it was a clash with the non-leaguers that seemed to rattle him. Within 10 minutes he had pushed Terry Hawkridge in the face, although the shove that sent him to the ground came from Jon Flanagan. That was the cue for players from both sides to exchange words and pushes. It was threatening to boil over.

Burnley responded with their most consistent spell of pressure in the game. Andre Gray scuffed a glorious chance from Tendayi Darikwa’s pull back, Michael Keane sent a header onto the roof of the net, Scott Arfield fired over and Gray blazed wide.

But just as thoughts were turning towards an unwanted replay at Sincil Bank the Imps struck in front of their own travelling fans.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Sam Habergham’s corner was headed back across goal by a criminally unmarked Luke Waterfall and met by Sean Raggett at the back post. Tom Heaton clawed his header away but goal line technology confirmed it had crossed the line, sparking scenes of pandemonium.

The Clarets had five added minutes to respond, but their only sight of goal saw Farman smother Gray’s shot.

Lincoln’s players and staff were still celebrating in front of their fans half an hour after the final whistle.

The day should belong to them and so should the story. That will suit Burnley just fine. The Wembley dream is over, now to make absolutely certain of Premier League safety. This is still a club on the up.