By common consent, the victory over Fulham was
our best performance of the season. Rugged, dogged and skilful, too, we deservedly
triumphed thanks to Little’s late goal. Buoyed by that huge achievement, we started
confidently on this grey, wintry afternoon, with Weller and Little testing the tentative
Terriers on their left flank and Ball and Cook dominant in central midfield. We should
have been ahead after five minutes. Seizing on a defensive error, Weller set up Moore. Our
pacey striker wriggled inside the box but blasted his angled shot straight at Vaesen. On
the half hour, Little allowed Moore the chance to make amends but our record signing only
gave Vaesen fielding practice. On his own admission, Moore’s finishing is not good
enough. It is so frustrating given his quick, bright groundwork.
This was a familiar script. We were dominating the game as we had
against Crewe and Grimsby but were failing to make it count. Eventually, hesitant
Huddersfield cobbled something together. Immediately after Moore’s second miss,
Thornley’s long right wing cross found Smith who shot fiercely to Michopoulos’
right. Nick the Greek could only parry the ball into Facey’s path. Incredibly, the
black striker sliced his shot wide of the open goal from just eight yards. Desperate for
points in their relegation battle, Huddersfield could ill afford such profligacy. Taylor
almost made them pay doubly. Five minutes from half-time he created an opening on the
right apex of the box but his shot flashed just past the left-hand post with Vaesen
helpless. Taylor deserved better luck. There’s no doubt that he has pepped
Burnley’s attack. He is strong in the air. He holds the ball up well and is mobile
and assured with a fierce shot. On this display, he might well be the target man that Stan
has been seeking. So, 0-0 at half-time. It should have been better.
Shortly after the interval we were given a big break. The ball was
clearly out of play on our right touchline. The Huddersfield defenders could see that. I
could see that, but the incompetent referee’s assistant did not. Weller exploited the
confusion, seizing the loose ball and advancing quickly on goal. Only some desperate last
ditch defending denied him. His savage shot was turned aside. But the ball only ran to
Little, who crossed quickly from the right for Steve Davis to head in at the near post,
via the underside of the bar.
Oddly enough, the goal lifted Huddersfield more than us. They began
to seize control in midfield, helped by our slack clearances, our reducing movement and
our inability to hold the ball under pressure. For all that, Huddersfield made little of
their possession, although Gallen shot weakly at NTG on 58 minutes. Stan decided that the
midfield needed greater zest and in the 69th minute replaced the recently
rehabilitated Cook and Ball with Johnrose and Mellon. But the pattern of play continued.
Davis, Thomas and Armstrong were very steady under this increasing pressure, so it was a
cause for great concern when Thomas had to be taken off following a clash of heads with
Facey. Payton replaced him, with Taylor moving into central defence. However, we managed
to hang on. In fact, we had the better chances on the break. Unfortunately, Vaesen saved
superbly from Little in the 80th minute, pushing his blistering drive around
the post. Then with just two minutes left, the Huddersfield keeper denied Mellon,
who’d broken into the box from the left wing, although this was a much more
comfortable save. With Moore unmarked in front of goal, Mellon should have squared the
ball. So, we had to endure another white-knuckle finish. Facey could have done better with
a flicked header from Smith’s cross and then in the very last seconds of injury time,
Lucketti’s far post header was brilliantly saved by NTG.
In truth, this was a dour game but only the result really mattered.
Stan thought the team was tired after its midweek exertions. Certainly, we looked
lethargic for much of the second half. Nevertheless, it was our first ‘double’
of the season and with the six points gained this week, we are almost safe. That might be
an absurdly negative conclusion, but after our wretched run, it was becoming increasingly
difficult to see where we would scrape the next point from. As we now stand, we could
still make an assault on the play offs. But let’s not get carried away. Our current
position is probably about right.
What is obvious is that the current team needs strengthening if we
are to at least retain this position next season. Our team is ageing. I can understand why
we might be interested in Howe, with Thomas surely now nearing the end of his impressive
career. Despite the brilliance of Little, the midfield is still not consistently robust
and creative. Ball has been an important addition, but Cook, Mellon, Mullin and Johnrose
are too fitful. Maylett looks as if he might fulfil his great promise but, irritatingly,
he offers something in the very position where we are well sorted. None of the midfielders
score enough goals either. Weller combines well with Little, but defensively he is not the
finished article, despite his considerable efforts. Branch has had his best season for
Burnley playing in a four-man midfield or up front, but his filling in turns at left
wingback leave us exposed when under pressure. He is prone to error, as was illustrated at
Blundell Park last week. Yesterday, he was probably our weakest link as we attempted to
defend our slender lead. As Stan has said, we don’t have sufficient strength in
reserve. Even if we offload players like Brass, West and Smith, we are not going to
realise much in transfer fees. I just hope that next year’s extra TV revenue gives us
a bit to play with, but if the revised transfer system drives up wages, our scope
won’t be that great. Realistically, I suppose we are looking at two or three new
additions. Certainly, we desperately need a free scoring striker. I hope it is just a
blip, but Payton looks a shadow of his former self. Perhaps playing alongside Taylor might
rejuvenate him. He hasn’t had that opportunity yet. After all, his former partnership
with Cooke was so important in his scoring sprees. Anyway, this is all speculative. What
is real is that we have almost attained our number one ambition for this season, safety.
Team: Michopoulos,
Weller, Davis, Armstrong, Thomas (Payton 71), Branch, Little, Ball (Mellon 69), Cook
(Johnrose 69), Taylor, Moore. Subs not used: Crichton and Mullin.
