Burnley Report

Probably about the best all-round team performance this season. With one exception pretty much the entire team contributed and we weren’t as reliant on Hulse and Derry as usual. The exception of course was Gregan who mixed some decent play, good anticipation and interceptions with some shocking moments. A header past Sullivan that luckily went wide of goal, a couple of comically sliced clearances plus of course their goal.

The first half was not exactly exciting and with the home side just playing Ade BadBiyi upfront on his own, was never going to be. We coped comfortably with everything Burnley tried to do and made the only real chances. The best one coming after neat link-up play between Richardson and Blake ended with the ball just dribbling passed the post as Blake and Hulse scrambled after it. We also managed a few corners and for once actually look a threat from set pieces this season.

The main talking point at half-time though was probably a schizophrenic performance from the ref who had booked Derry for a seemingly fair tackle and then refused to allow Hulse treatment despite the fact he’d been lying on the ground for some time and the ball was out of play.

Second half followed the same pattern, no real trouble and often a threat of a goal, largely from Richardson’s play down the right. However when the goal came it was against us, a long ball forward was not dealt with by Gregan and Butler who allowed Akinbiyi to win possession, he then simply ran round Gregan who brought him down. O’Conner put the penalty away well.

The good sign was the way we reacted, straight on the attack and although I was surprised Healy came on for Richardson and not Blake it soon paid dividends. Ball played over the top and after a little nudge Healy was clear of Harley who then tugged him back Ref made the gesture that there were players level but it still should have been a red as Healy would have been able to shoot before they could have got across. Any disappointment soon disappeared though when Lewis curled it over the wall into the net. Can’t remember a free-kick goal for a long-time but given it didn’t go in the corner and wasn’t hit that hard, the goalie would be disappointed.

A few minutes later and Lewis continued his purple patch, jinking inside a defender and putting in an inviting cross that Hulse attacked and thumped a header into the net. No more than we deserved and we could have scored again before the game entered four minutes of fractious injury time. The closest when Derry went through about 4 tackles but the keeper blocked his shot, though just before Sully had pulled of an excellent at point blank range to prevent an equaliser.

The game ended on a ugly note – Hyde tripped Derry and was booked but was lucky that Glyfi got in the way before Derry could exact retribution. Moore was then body-checked in the area and should have at least won an indirect free-kick. More bizarrely as the ball rolled off the pitch Cotterill wellied it away, thereby wasting more time than Sullivan’s impressive efforts earlier in the game. Finally after the final whistle something happened in the tunnel, causing the ref to hide outside til it was over.

 Scores

Matt