Preston’s Milutin Osmajic riles Burnley with Cup goal taunts after racism claim | FA Cup

“Preston advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals,” proclaimed the PA announcer at Deepdale. It is a sentence no Preston fan has heard since 1966 but a reality after Paul Heckingbottom’s team produced a dominant display to shred Burnley.

Milutin Osmajic, almost inevitability, was central to Preston’s passage into the last eight. Robbie Brady, with a superb free-kick, Osmajic, with a clinical strike, and a predatory finish from Will Keane gave the hosts victory in the meeting of two founder members of the Football League. Burnley’s previously mean and lauded defence was nowhere to be seen. Defeat could have been greater for Scott Parker’s side.

The fall-out to the recent league meeting at Deepdale dominated proceedings and shaped Parker’s team selection. Hannibal Mejbri, who accused Osmajic of racially abusing him a fortnight ago, was omitted from the Burnley squad “to protect” the former Manchester United midfielder, according to his manager. Parker explained: “It has been a tough decision and we come here a bit weakened because Hannibal is a vitally important member of this squad but I felt it was the best decision for Hannibal.”

Burnley’s players refused to shake the Montenegro international’s hand before kick off while the away fans in the Bill Shankly Stand booed his every touch. There was a certain inevitability to the impact Osmajic would go on to have.

Two league games this season between Preston and Burnley, 15^th and third in the Championship respectively, had ended in goalless stalemates and for 30 minutes the old Lancashire rivals appeared on course for another. Preston were the more determined, purposeful unit as Burnley, with several regulars on the bench and first choice goalkeeper James Trafford absent completely, struggled to find their rhythm.

But neither keeper had been tested before Brady brought the tie to life with a stunning opener. The hosts were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal after Burnley left back Lucas Pires collected a booking for clattering into Brad Potts. Perfect territory for the cultured left foot of Brady. The Republic of Ireland international swept an exquisite free-kick over the wall and into the top corner of Vaclav Hladky’s goal. Brady declined to celebrate against his former club but his first FA Cup goal was one to savour.

Luca Koleosho had a decent chance to equalise for Burnley shortly before half-time when seizing on a scuffed clearance by Liam Lindsay and breaking into the Preston area. The forward dragged a low shot well wide.

Koleosho was aghast in first half stoppage time when his goal-bound attempt was deflected wide after Freddie Woodman had missed Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick into a crowded box.

By then Preston had the cushion of a second goal, and Osmajic the moment he craved. Referee John Brooks played a good advantage when Ryan Ledson went down holding his face after being caught by a Maxime Estève clearance. Potts threaded the loose ball behind an exposed visiting defence and Osmajic ran clear to drill a clinical finish under Hladky. The striker, who remains under investigation by the Football Association over Mejbri’s allegation, which Osmajic denies, celebrated by cupping his ears in front of the Burnley fans.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden should have made it three to Preston early in the second half when Osmajic led an excellent counter-attack. Will Keane played the full-back clean through on goal but Kesler-Hayden put a defender’s finish high over the Burnley bar.

The visitors’ performance did improve in the second half, marginally, and Woodman denied substitute Zian Flemming with a fine reflex save. But Preston extinguished any hope of a recovery for the Premier League promotion contenders with a fine team goal. Stefan Thórdarson played a superb ball out of defence to Andrew Hughes, surging forward on the left. The substitute steered a first time cross along the six-yard area and Keane was perfectly placed to convert from close range.

Deepdale was in dreamland, Parker in disbelief at an unrecognisable defensive display from his team.