After a long season full of long – in the case of
Virgin Trains, seemingly endless – journeys, it was nice to have a local game. There
are some advantages to living in East Anglia! In fact, as the weekend formed part of the
London Clarets’ 25th Anniversary celebrations, a number of us travelled
down on Sunday and spent a nice couple of days enjoying the local culture (or beer,
depending on preference).
The pre-match omens seemed good. Although Norwich had just beaten Tranmere away, the
Clarets were in good form. We had seen a couple of "Stan’s" coaches at
Norwich railway station (let's see where they take us? - Ed). And best of all, whilst
crossing Norwich by taxi on the Sunday evening, we saw the team out for an evening stroll!
For some reason I was the only person to get very excited by this, but my theory is that
everyone else was thrilled as well and just covered it up better...
Pre-match facts, however, were thin on the ground, and I had to resort to Teletext.
Apparently Norwich’s left back, Drury, was a major injury doubt – this would
surely be good news for Little et al. Unfortunately Notman, their ex-Manchester United
signing, was tipped to start the game. We apparently had "no fresh injury
worries", but that was the extent of Teletext’s coverage. Not much to go on
there!
Once at the ground, we found the view somewhat less than ideal. Our tickets had all
been labelled either "Impaired View" or "Obstructed View". I had
dismissed this as probable exaggeration. However, it turned out to be an understatement.
What with the low roof, pillars, and odd bits of metal hanging down, it was (as Firmo put
it) like watching a TV programme in widescreen format! The heavy police presence was a bit
of a worry, too, considering that the opposing fans had mixed quite happily before the
game.
But to the match. Team line-ups were as follows:
Norwich (3-4-3): Green, Jackson, Drury, Fleming, Kenton, Mackay,
Roberts, Mulryne, Notman, Russell, Llewellyn (subs: McGovern, Marshall, Holt, Forbes,
Peschisolido).
Burnley (4-4-2): Michopoulos, West,
Davis, Armstrong, Smith, Little, Weller, Ball, Cook, Taylor, Moore (subs: Crichton,
Payton, Thomas, Mullin, Briscoe).
The game kicks off and Burnley look up for it. Within the first few minutes West,
Little and Weller are moving nicely together, seeming to bypass Drury (yes, the same Drury
who probably wasn’t going to be playing) with ease. However, Norwich are also looking
quite lively, their No. 8 (Notman) catching my eye along with Phil Mulryne (10). Iwan
Roberts will surely be a handful, and an early heavy challenge on Michopoulos from Russell
ends any ideas that a team having "nothing to play for" will not be up for the
game. A clear Norwich offside is missed by the officials – I hope it’s not going
to be one of those days.
Inside 5 minutes our pressure brings a corner, but Weller can only find Robert Green,
deputising for Andy Marshall in the City goal. Frustration. The police, no doubt
frustrated themselves by the presumably total lack of crime anywhere in the Norwich area,
find a way of making themselves "useful", and remove Rocky from his seat.
(Sadly, all parties return later.) Good work by Notman and Kenton earns Norwich a corner;
Mulryne puts in a useful ball but fortunately for us it comes to nothing.
Things start to progress in a seesaw fashion. Llewellyn wins a free kick which Smith
(looking a little hesitant defensively) eventually deals with. A move started by Little
sees him eventually head over the bar. Iwan Roberts plays in Llewellyn, whose shot is just
wide of Michopoulos’ left-hand post. Cook and Kenton are having an interesting
battle.
Then Norwich get a breakthrough. Somehow we contrive to give possession away, and
Notman scores a good goal, beating two of our players en route to rounding Michopoulos and
putting them 1-0 up. Things start to hot up. Armstrong needs to be at his best to get the
better of the lively Kenton. A nasty challenge from behind on Little gives us a free kick,
but the referee doesn’t see any reason to produce a card. It occurs to me that the
referee is perhaps taking "let the game flow" too literally. This is further
emphasised when Moore makes an excellent run and seems to be through on goal when he is
brought down. Hundreds of Clarets rise as one screaming for a free kick, a booking –
anything. But Mr Messias has seen nothing. The police scowl as the fans have the audacity
to express themselves.
Then in the 24th minute, we get a breakthrough of our own. A routine Ball
shot ends up in Green’s hands – an easy save. But wait – Green too is keen
to "let the game flow", and somehow manages to lose his grip on the ball, which
squirms into the net. 1-1! The Burnley faithful start to bait the hapless Green, but the
mistake seems to galvanise Norwich. A silly challenge from Little awakens the ref for long
enough to flourish the yellow card; Michopoulos has to stretch to punch out the resulting
free kick. Another Norwich attack is halted only by the offside flag. I observe that the
ref seems to take ages to notice the linesmen flagging. Norwich have a corner – Smith
makes an excellent clearance off the line.
Then the ref loses it completely. Notman goes down in our penalty area – right in
front of us. Dive, surely. But no – the ref is pointing to the spot, although the
linesman doesn’t appear to have indicated a foul. Smith is booked, whether for the
challenge or for dissent I’m not sure. Roberts takes the penalty. 2-1 to Norwich.
We are all shell-shocked, even more so a couple of minutes later when Green climbs all
over Moore in the Norwich penalty area and nothing is given. All Clarets fans leap up to
abuse the ref, who then further highlights his incompetence by booking Taylor and then
giving a drop ball (which Weller deals with sportingly). He then gives Norwich a dodgy
free kick (which Mulryne can only put over the bar) and deals with a nasty foul on Smith
by playing advantage – sadly, to Norwich. The half-time whistle is accompanied by a
torrent of abuse.
The interval passes quickly and soon the teams are back out for the second half.
Briscoe has replaced Smith. The Clarets come out all guns blazing, an overhead kick from
Weller going just over the crossbar. Our pressure is rewarded inside 3 minutes when a
perfect right-hand cross from Little is headed powerfully home by Taylor. 2-2! Cook is
replaced by Thomas. Mulryne puts in a nasty tackle on Weller, but again the ref sees
nothing. Is this guy worse than the ref at Crewe? Discuss.
Norwich have a shot from distance (safely dealt with by Michopoulos) and a corner which
comes to nothing. I start to get nervous. The next goal will be crucial. Armstrong has to
leave the field for treatment – this is not what we need. In his absence, however, we
manage to keep the ball largely in the Norwich half, even earning a couple of corners.
Then after 17 minutes, we get a well-deserved break – more accurately described as
a piece of sublime skill from Ian Moore! Moore does his usual jinking around in the
penalty area and eventually beats Green with a perfectly positioned shot across goal and
inside the keeper’s left-hand post. Hundreds of Burnley fans rise again! The Norwich
fans in the stand to our right, however, are strangely silent...
The rest of the game passes surprisingly quickly (normally I find that games drag when
we’re holding onto a slender lead). Norwich don’t give up, and start throwing
the ball and people forward. Their pressure nearly pays off when an excellent effort from
Roberts is only kept out by Davis’s legs. However, Little is now starting to dominate
the game, and with Weller, Taylor and Moore also working hard we at least avoid giving
Norwich too much of the ball. Indeed we have a chance to go 4-2 up when Moore puts a
fantastic ball across the goal – sadly there is no-one there! Little sets up Taylor
for a close-range shot, but Taylor’s control lets him down.
Norwich are now getting desperate. Worthington takes off Kenton, and Notman (strange
decision), and brings on Forbes and Peschisolido. Stan takes off Moore – to a
standing ovation – and brings on Payton. Norwich continue to press, and both Ball and
Armstrong are booked for seemingly innocuous challenges. Norwich take off Mulryne and
bring on McGovern. A goalmouth melee gives us heart failure – but for once Mr Messias
does something right and gives us the free kick. Michopoulos smothers well right at the
edge of his area. A foul on Little terminates his brilliant run, but Davis can only put
the free kick over the bar. It doesn’t matter – the ref blows for full time and
we’ve won!
We all have a quick drink and head back to London (or Colchester, in my case!). Once
we’ve abused the referee again, the talk is all about play-offs – will we get
there or not? The more sensible amongst us say it doesn’t matter. We’ve done
well enough, and should be a good bet for next season if we can perhaps freshen the squad
up a little. But I just can’t be sensible about this. I’m going to carry
on dreaming about 6th place... and a couple of thumping wins against a little
team from down the road...
Eat
your heart out, Delia