I am
curious (yellow)
Burnley 2 Norwich 0, Tuesday 21 November 2000
Report by Hego
In the now infamous apologetic words of Chris
Green, venerated Chief Executive of Virgin trains, ‘What can I say?’ Yet another
late Hego match report, for which apologies. Haven’t quite grasped the vagaries of
this 'ere machine. Bring back the quill pen say I.
Anyway, as Mr Green’s so called moving
railway company is not to be trusted any more, dusted off the cobwebs from Old Dobbin in
the stables, and sped away up the M40 on the usual 500 mile midweek round trip to the
hallowed Turf. Even had the evergreen Mr Wood in the saddle for this rehash of the
postponed ritual thrashing of the Canaries. Uneventful sort of ride really, only disrupted
by swans trying to cross the M40 without using the appropriate Pelican Crossing. Positive
chi here. Speculated on whether Stan would start with Moore on the bench, whilst whistle
wetting in a new ale-house in Burnley, (the Nelson) which is to be thoroughly recommended.
Again the vibes were of the positive variety.
Bit of a wet night at the Turf, a greasy pitch,
but not too cold, although Cooky decided to wear his ‘John Barnes’ gloves.
Firmly expect to see him wearing the black nylon accoutrements soon, when the weather
actually gets bad. Big girl’s blouse! Maybe 200 Canary supporters present to keep the
usual 15,000 Clarets company. Bertie Bee was as usual prancing around following his recent
appearance on Sky adverts beating the Preston mascot 1-0. Cook and Little re-instated in
the side, with Moore, surprise, surprise on the bench and Johnrose injured. Could this
happen at any other club, I think not. Didn’t really recognise many of the players on
the canary side, ex Ewan Roberts, Darryl Sutch and Danny Granville on loan from Man City.
The Clarets started off like a house on fire,
but quickly fizzled out in a first half which was poor. Norwich were plainly intent on
capturing a point the negative way, and relied on the quick break to keep us awake. An
early Payton header from a Davis cross was well saved during the fiery part, before Glen
had a shot saved after another of his mazy runs. What about the colour clash with the
yellow ball and canary shirts? After ten minutes Nick the Greek actually touched the ball
for the first time in the match. Then Mitchell Thomas, in winger’s mode, crossed
after 15 minutes to give Cook a shooting chance, which he promptly ballsed up. Does
anybody know why the boys, particularly Cook, bounce the ball twice on the spot before
taking a free kick?
After 22 minutes Glen had to leave the field
after a bad tackle, to be replaced by Weller. Not a bad change by any means. Norwich then
came back in to the game despite prompting by the Legend, and after a Cox-up with NTG,
Delia’s boys almost had the lead as Roberts half chance was cleared. Briscoe was
badly injured in that piece of play, and was stretchered off to be replaced by the joyful
entrance of a million-pound acquisition. Looked a pretty bad injury. Then on 27 minutes a
Granville handball in the box gave Payton a chance to get the show on the road, which he
promptly missed with a weak shot easily saved to the keeper's left. I have to say I
wasn’t totally surprised, as he didn’t look his normal confident self as he
strode to the spot. Marshall then had a dream of a chance a few yards in front of goal,
after Forbes exploited the space down the flank where Briscoe would have been. Branch then
assumed the left wing back position.
Aside from a couple of poor touches by Payton in
good positions, a Norwich free kick easily saved by NTG, and another silly Branch booking,
that was it. Half time, used ale repository, bovril, pie and peas, moan about the half,
read programme. I could vaguely hear the sound of breaking china issuing forth from the
Clarets' dressing room.
Straight out of the half time Ternent hearth,
the fire was re-kindled, when a fine run by Weller was almost finished by Payton as he
rounded the keeper, but hit the post with his right foot shot. Game on. Moore was putting
himself about aggressively, and looked very lively. He has excellent pace over the first
few yards, which left the moribund Mackay floundering. A centre half exhibiting an element
of built in obsolescence, who was about to be found out. A bit of a muppet, but I’m
not sure which one. Aside from a booking for Ball, which would lead to a suspension, it
was all Claret.
The first goal, when it came in the 56th
minute, was a classic. Moore released Weller on the right with a great pass, and he then
crossed to the near post, where the Payton finish was exquisite. Typical of the man, who
hadn’t put a foot right to that point. With Roberts in Coxey’s top pocket, the
yellow people yielded to the inevitable. A usual piece of Mellon indecision saw another
fine chance wasted, and Ball toe-poked wide from a further piece of Weller class. The
second goal in the 66th minute was a fine back post header following a Mellon
corner, from the inevitable Legend. A long shot from Llewellyn was pretty much all the
Carrow boys could muster to the end of the game. I’m sure NTG laughed at that one.
Mullin came on for the gloved one, but the promised Moore goal did not happen. This was
not for want of trying, or for lack of opportunity. He even managed to carve out a further
late chance for Payton with a neat through ball, which the keeper saved.
Well there you have it. Thirty five points from
nineteen games, or minus seventeen to safety, depending upon the degree of pessimism still
left out there. With some really tough games to come this was a great boost for the boys,
who despatched this non-vintage Norwich team with some ease. Good performances from Davis,
Weller, Cox and Moore, but injuries and yet more bookings the down side.
Team (3-5-2):
Michopoulos, Thomas, The Legend, Cox, Little (Weller 22), Mellon, Ball, Cook (Mullin 80),
Briscoe (Moore 33), Payton, Branch. Subs not used: Crichton and Jepson.
Scorers: Payton
(56), Davis (66).
Crowd: 15,079.
Referee: M.S.
Pike (no relation).
London Clarets Man
of the Match: Steve Davis.
The away game and another report from the away game
