SACKING your manager on the day of a cup quarter final is not exactly textbook preparation.

But it certainly worked in 1983 as Burnley, struggling in the old Second Division, pulled off the unlikeliest cup shock in their history by humbling Spurs in their own back yard.

Two decades on, the Clarets again go in search of a Carling Cup shock against Tottenham at Turf Moor tomorrow night - ironically against Spurs side under new management following Jacques Santini's weekend departure.

And Frank Casper, who steered Burnley to that famous victory against all odds following Brian Miller's untimely dismissal, believes Steve Cotterill's side can once again come up trumps against the Premiership big guns.

Casper said: "Burnley played ever so well against Aston Villa in the last round and if they can repeat that level of performance then I can really see another shock on the cards.

"If you look at Spurs, you would have to say they are not pulling up any trees and have just lost Santini, so if Burnley can get at them, a victory is a real possibility."

Casper somehow masterminded that stunning 4-1 victory in January 1983 despite the turmoil surrounding the club during the day.

The Clarets had travelled to London without Miller, who had been summoned to meet with club chairman John Jackson.

Casper recalled: "We travelled down the day before and I was told Brian would be following on.

"When he still hadn't arrived on the afternoon of the game I spoke to a director and he told me Brian had been sacked.

"I decided not to tell the lads until after the game and they went out and put in an amazing performance under the circumstances."

'Amazing' hardly does the result justice as a star-studded Spurs side including Ray Clemence, Glenn Hoddle, Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles was well and truly thrashed despite taking the lead!

The second half was only 45 seconds old when Terry Gibson prodded the home side ahead.

But the expected avalanche never materialised and the hapless Graham Roberts scored two own goals to compliment Billy Hamilton's brace as Burnley went ballistic.

"People forget that we had the nucleus of a good team back then," added Casper. "Spurs thought it was going to be a walk-over, but we totally out-battled them.

"There was nothing lucky about the win at all and it's still up there as my best day as Burnley manager."

Casper held the post for the remainder of the 1982/83 season, until the team was relegated to Division Three and John Bond infamously took charge of the Clarets.