I wasn’t totally looking forward to
today. Well, of course I was looking forward to being in Burnley again. But the debacle of
Forest Away had left its mark on my brain, and I couldn’t shake off a recurring
negative premonition. It had started towards the middle of last week as no more than a
tiny back-of-mind worry about whether we could maintain our unbeaten home record. However,
by Saturday morning (fuelled no doubt by too much time staring at Sky Sports and Ceefax
– the football fan’s equivalent of eating too much cheese causing bad dreams?)
it had grown into the absolutely certain knowledge that disaster loomed ahead. This had
been compounded by the disappointment of Andy Cooke’s departure to Stoke –
surely we would need him today?
Well, at least there was no need to worry about train connections. No,
there hasn’t been some miraculous improvement to our railways. It’s just that
the situation is now so awful that the only option is to drive. So, four of us crammed
into a small Golf and prepared to do battle with the A1. Amazingly, traffic was light and
we made good time to Burnley. The downside of that, of course, was that there was then
lots of time to sit and indulge in pre-match worrying. Sky Sports helpfully reminded me
again that "David Platt’s Forest" (how I hate it when they describe clubs
in that way) had won six out of their last seven games. On the positive side, Jack Lester
– pretty impressive in the away game – was suspended, and Robbie Blake had
returned to Bradford. Alan Rogers would also be missing, having picked up a nasty injury.
However, that had to be balanced against the fact that we would be missing Briscoe and
Little, and with several players each on four yellow cards, we might perhaps be somewhat
inhibited.
Reluctant to leave the pub, we eventually dragged ourselves away and
arrived in the ground a few seconds before kick-off. As I scrambled into my seat I noticed
that Forest had brought quite a few. I felt a bit of sympathy with them – like
Burnley supporters they have seen a once-big club fall on leaner times. I started to feel
nervous...
Burnley lined up as follows: Michopoulos, Cox, Davis, Thomas, Branch,
Weller, Cook, Mellon, Ball, Payton, Moore. Subs: Crichton, Johnrose, Jepson, Mullin,
Maylett. Forest: Beasant, Vaughan, Bart-Williams, Edwards, Foy, Louis-Jean, Scimeca,
Prutton, Williams, Reid, Harewood. Subs: Cooper, John, Brennan, Roche, Calderwood.
The game started at a fast pace with both teams looking lively. We were
certainly up for it, with Mellon and Moore moving particularly well. (From the little I
have seen of him, I’m impressed with Moore. Looks like he will settle in well, but
it’s early days.) Forest had already shown their class to us in the away game, and
started purposefully with Reid (playing up front with Harewood) shooting just wide within
the first minute – surely further proof that my premonition was about to come true?
Their no. 7, Prutton, also looked good. If only our no. 7 were playing...
However Burnley always like to surprise me, and the anticipated Forest
domination didn’t happen. The first half saw both sides playing very well and
overall, cancelling each other out to an extent. But this was in no way boring – it
was totally absorbing. We were looking good: a number of corners including an early
opportunity for Davis that saw him misjudge his header; Branch and Weller making some good
runs; Payton getting himself into some useful positions. Moore’s pace was obviously
worrying the Forest defence, too, and they soon resorted to fouling him. On the other side
of the coin, Forest were also competing well. Harewood and Reid looked pretty dangerous,
with good support from their midfield (which had a decided age and pace advantage over
ours!). Davis and Thomas were having a torrid time from Harewood especially, and had to
make a number of critical interceptions – Davis also ably covering Michopoulos when
the latter seemed disinclined to come forward.
I noted that the referee seemed keen to let play flow, and mentally
complimented him. This proved to be an error. Around the mid-point of the first half,
Moore was blatantly pushed over in the box right in front of Mr Jones. His reaction:
nothing. Hmmm. Perhaps he wasn’t so much keen to let play flow, more totally
incompetent. Unfortunately, the penalty appeal seemed to gee Forest up and they enjoyed
some good possession as the Burnley defence seemed uncertain. A good run from Prutton
ended only when Davis managed to put the ball out for a corner. Then the pendulum swung
again. Branch put Moore in a good position but Forest somehow scrambled the ball clear.
Shortly afterwards, Thomas put in an excellent close-range cross – only to find that
no-one got on the end of it! But at least we were applying pressure and creating some
chances. Another excellent Moore run ended only when Beasant and Vaughan collided with him
– but again, Mr Jones’ eyes were firmly shut. My irritation with the referee
grew further when Payton was clearly fouled well into the Forest half and in a good
position, but nothing was given. I started wondering what the opposite of a
"homer" is (OK, I know it’s "away-er", but somehow that
doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue!). The rest of the half raced by in the same vein
– Harewood beating Davis for pace but shooting wide; Moore twisting and turning;
Weller, Payton and Branch all putting in good crosses that unfortunately came to nothing;
Weller heading just over; Louis-Jean threatening; Michopoulos saving well from Reid.
Phew! Half time provided a welcome opportunity to rest – my pen had
been working overtime! The announcer declared Preston to be winning: boo. Come on you
Fulham! Huddersfield are losing yet again – what a nightmare for their fans (a lovely
stadium and only rubbish to watch). The usual penalty shoot-out and bee antics kept us
entertained – we have even acquired some cheerleaders now as well...
The second half proved to be just as good as the first – never
boring, just two evenly-matched teams both playing well. Both managers made a change early
on, first Platt replacing Louis-Jean with Cooper, and then Ternent taking off Cook for
Johnrose. Clearly they both fancied the win. As in the first half, both teams had chances.
Foy had an early good run well cut out by Weller. Mellon put an inviting ball through for
Payton, who couldn’t read it. A promising Reid – Scimeca combination brought a
good save from Michopoulos. Another good cross from Weller again came to nothing. At
times, the game was like bagatelle – fast and frantic. Even the rain, which had now
started to fall heavily (well, this is Burnley after all!) didn’t affect the quality
of the football. However, Burnley were perhaps now starting to look the side most likely
to win the game. An excellent kick from Michopoulos set Moore free, but Beasant was able
to gather safely. Davis’s long ball gave Branch a good opportunity, but his shot was
deflected for a corner. However, the resulting corner produced an excellent header from
Cox, which everyone in the ground must have thought would give us 1-0. Everyone in the
ground except Foy, that is, who produced a top-class header off the line.
The referee had continued his questionable "display" of the
first half. Foul after foul went unpunished, with Moore seemingly coming in for particular
attention. Forest were awarded a decidedly dodgy corner, which fortunately for us ended
tamely. Harewood still looked threatening, and even Vaughan was pushing forward. Was it
going to be one of those days? Ternent’s over-enthusiastic comments from the
touchline brought a visit and a carpeting from Mr Jones, and I started to feel nervous
again. Prutton made another good run from midfield, cut out by Ball (another good solid
performance from him). From our midfield, Mellon was still getting forward well and
troubling Beasant. Surely this game could only end 0-0?
Then we got a lucky break. A Mellon corner saw a frantic melee in the
Forest penalty area as a mass of players jostled for the ball. Suddenly, the referee was
waving to the spot – we’d been awarded a penalty. Why? Certainly no-one in the
crowd seemed to have seen what had happened. The referee’s signal had been ambiguous.
Hand-ball? A push? No matter. Up stepped Payton. Time for real nerves – obviously the
feelings I’d had earlier had just been practice! I desperately hoped that Payton
would blast it. The Forest players were protesting at the decision, prolonging the agony.
I needn’t have worried. Golden Boot made no mistake, duly blasting and leaving
Beasant with no chance.
The rest of the game passed in a blur. I seemed to have used up all my
nerves, and felt strangely calm. Ternent took off Payton and brought on Mullin. Platt took
off Williams and brought on Stern John, and replaced Foy with Brennan. The strange
refereeing continued, with a blatant obstruction of Moore producing no reaction from Mr
Jones. The usual late introduction of Jepson (for Moore) wasted a bit more time. Two
minutes of stoppage time – no problem. The final whistle came and we all celebrated
madly! An excellent result.
Time to go back to the pub for a quick warm-up and to discuss the game.
Everyone agreed that both teams had played well, with Forest perhaps being slightly
unlucky. Opinions on the referee varied – some thought he had been biased towards
Burnley, others that he had favoured Forest. I suppose that’s part of what makes
going to games so interesting. Sky obligingly showed us the table – we’re back
up to fifth! Apparently the penalty had been for a hand-ball by Prutton. The mood was good
as we began the long drive south, and the journey seemed to pass in no time. When I got
indoors, I felt shattered but proud. We had played the division’s form team, and come
out on top. I could look forward to Preston and Blackburn. Oh, and Andy Cooke... I
hadn’t thought about him at all – surely a pretty good measure of how far we
have now come?
A
helping hand