'Biggest night in club's history' for fearless Fleetwood

Given their league positions, form and pedigree, there could surely only have been one winner.

Fleetwood played Arsenal on Tuesday with an 84-place gulf between the teams and most home fans arriving in hope rather than expectation. But remarkably, it was the hosts who booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final thanks to their penalty shootout win over the Gunners.

For the side known as the Cod Army, who won six promotions in 12 years in an impressive journey from non-league, this result will surely be remembered longest of all. Against the reigning Premier League champions, the club from a small seaside town in Lancashire created history in claiming one of the biggest cup upsets ever.

Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the hosts the lead after 21 minutes but, after the break, Viktor Gyokeres pulled the visitors level.

And from there, they might have been expected to take charge, but Fleetwood remained resolute, prospering from a wasteful performance from Arsenal that included Max Dowman being sent off for kicking out after a robust challenge from Harrison Neal.

Fleetwood, who sit 18th in League Two having won just once in their past eight league games, dared to dream and took the game to penalties, with fans spilling on to the pitch after Conor Haughey's decisive spot-kick.

"The biggest night in the club's history in terms of opposition coming to town and we've managed to beat the champions," boss Matt Lawlor told Sky Sports in the aftermath of his side's stunning victory.

"I'm a big football fan and I watch National League all the way through to the Premier League, Championship. So for me it was a tough game to prepare for, but I'm just so glad that the lads have the feeling the way they are and took that performance in to make that town, the club, everyone proud."

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, left-back Jake Batty added: "Our league form's not been as good as what we'd want it to be and for some reason [in] cup competitions everyone gets a bit of a fire in their belly. We just came up with some magical moments and obviously that's one to tell the grandkids, isn't it?

"We've struggled. We're not known as a big club in League Two. We get a few thousand fans each game, and just the buzz around the town, you could see the fans in the shootout and all game.

"That's what we encourage to bring on Saturday. That's what we want on Saturday.

"Why can't we replicate that and get 5,000 fans behind us every game and, and give us that momentum?"

Batty added that on reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since their arrival in the English Football League in 2012, Fleetwood should be "fearless" and hope for a home tie.

"It's unbelievable for the town and hopefully we can get someone else at home and do exactly the same thing," he said.

"I don't think we should be scared of any team."

On 20 April 2024, Fleetwood's relegation from League One was confirmed, capping off a miserable season for the club on the pitch.

That same day, Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux to go top of the Premier League. They would finish that campaign second, but won the title two years later.

Meanwhile, Fleetwood have held their heads above water in League Two - and the league is very much in mind for boss Lawlor, with his side facing Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

"It's really hard to address the players. I've just said to enjoy it and then we've got a league game on Saturday," he added.

"I didn't want to be the bearer of the reality, but we've got a game."

It was Haughey who ultimately struck the winning penalty to send the hosts through, yet it was goalkeeper Jay Lynch who tipped the shootout in their favour.

He pulled off superb saves during the match to deny Ben White and Martin Odegaard, then kept out Bruno Guimaraes' penalty, and was left hoarse in the aftermath of a stunning victory at a windy Highbury.

It was a victory which he likened to Grimsby's triumph over Manchester United in the competition last season.

"My voice has gone from organising the defence," Lynch told Sky Sports.

"We took heart from Grimsby beating Man United last year. We kind of compared it.

"It was a typical night in Fleetwood. We were expecting a storm, we knew the conditions would be horrible, so we thought it might go in our favour.

"It's amazing for the club, the town. Honestly it means everything to everyone."