Trips to watch our beloved Clarets are rapidly
becoming marathons requiring a dogged spirit and a determination that - come what may - we
will be there when the first whistle blows. Today was no different. To say we were up
early would be akin to saying that water is a little bit wet. 4.10am to be exact with dawn
well over two hours away.
Anyway, after an uneventful journey from Colchester, we arrived at Euston
and met up with the rest of the London Clarets ready to put themselves through what can
only be described as the masochistic ritual that is the journey to Preston. The one saving
grace about today’s journey was that we didn’t have to make a connection for
Burnley. A certain Mr Horrocks had filled us all with trepidation after recounting his
story of last week’s horrific trip. At least he had a victory to cheer him (?). Would
we be able to say the same today?
The journey started well with us leaving on time (!) but hope soon turned
to despair when the train manager (the what?) announced that it could be 13:45 before we
arrived at Preston. (I’ll save you the bother – that’s 5 hours 25 minutes
to do a journey that until recently took about 3 hours). It appeared that Virgin’s
‘Emergency Timetable’ published specifically for today had already slipped by 45
minutes and we’d only just set off.
The journey dragged and boredom inevitably set in with us forced to create
fantasy football teams featuring the ‘Fruit 11’ (Appleton, Mellon etc),
‘Religious 11’ (Archdeacon, Deane etc) and even the ‘Occupations 11’
(Painter, Weaver etc). However, we eventually arrived at Preston at about 1 o’clock
which begs the question as to whether Virgin are trying some sort of reverse psychology on
us. If that’s the case, they should stick to running trains: it’s what
they’re best at (!).
Once in Preston and the imbibing had begun, thoughts and conversation
inevitably turned to the match. Personally, I’ve never liked Preston games. The 3-2
win at Deepdale in the disastrous Waddle season apart, we always seem to struggle against
our neighbours. I couldn’t see today being much different, especially when the
ever-improving Kevin Ball and the in-form Graham Branch would both be missing due to
suspension. Glen Little was supposedly having a fitness test before the game so could be
starting or might be on the bench. A 1-1 draw would be a good result.
On leaving the last pub, we tried to hail a cab but quickly discovered
that Preston cabbies have a quaint custom. They don’t stop. Black cab, no passengers,
‘for hire’ light on: still they don’t stop. Hang on. Maybe Virgin runs all
the cabs in Preston?
Needless to say, we made the ground our usual 10 minutes before the
kick-off and immediately regretted it. Deepdale could be best described as a stadium in
transition. Two sides of the ground are basically terracing with a few seats - akin to a
Third division stadium. The other two sides are state-of-the-art - not dissimilar to our
own Jimmy McIlroy and North Stands. Last season we were allocated seats in the new Bill
Shankly stand behind the goal, but this season we were relegated to the paddock terracing
with its restricted views and overcrowding. A lot of stretching, craning and standing on
tiptoe lay ahead.
As the teams were announced, it was pleasing to hear that Brad Maylett had
been given a place in the starting line-up. It’s all too rare nowadays that a Burnley
first-team player joined the club as a trainee and progressed through the ranks.
Little, as it transpired, didn’t even make the bench, and so the
assumption must be that Stan’s keeping him back for the visit of B***tard Rovers next
week. When the substitutes were announced, it was brought into sharp focus just how
premature talk of play-offs and promotion is. Crichton, Armstrong, West, Jepson and
Mullin. It shows that our squad does not have the necessary depth in all positions when
injuries and suspensions take their toll.
So to the match. Burnley appeared to be adopting a 4-4-2 formation as
follows:
Moore
Payton
Cook Johnrose Mellon Maylett
Thomas Cox Davis Weller
Michopoulos
Although the first fifteen minutes were fairly frenetic, no chances of any
note were created by either side. Maylett was troubling McKenna with his pace and Moore
looked very lively making good runs off defenders and creating space for the midfield.
A ball over the top found Cox and Michopoulos closing in on each other
with a Preston striker breathing down their necks. A lack of communication between
defender and keeper (how many times have we said that?) resulted in Cox giving away a
needless corner.
Poor marking at the far post allowed Cartwright to find Jackson who, from
close range, forced a great save from Michopoulos after it had appeared he’d
controlled the ball with his hand.
Preston were having most of the possession and, although not carving us
open, were looking more and more dangerous. About midway through the first half, the
impressive Moore won a free kick close to the edge of Preston’s area, which Steve
Davis lined up to take. The referee warned Rankine not to encroach, but he took no notice
and neither did the ref. The free kick was struck harmlessly into the wall and the chance
went begging. How long is it since we scored from a free kick? It would appear that some
more work is required on the training field to come up with some fresh ideas. Every team
we face know that if a free kick is within shooting distance Davis will take it, and so
they set their wall accordingly.
The game was then turned on its head by a piece of sublime skill. Ian
Moore received the ball with his back to goal and Gregan climbing all over him. With a
shimmy of the hips, he turned and left Gregan for dead and curled a superb twenty-yard
shot beyond Lucas. 1-0 to the Clarets!
Preston dominated the rest of the half, but the Burnley defending was
solid and composed. The increasingly dangerous Macken flashed a shot across goal just
beyond the far post; Michopoulos made a good save from Gunnlaugsson and a superb
one-handed tip-over from a close range Macken header.
We reached half time 1-0 up. Dare we hope for three points? One point will
do.
The only disappointing aspect of the first half had been that Payton had
been anonymous. Increasingly, especially away from home, he’s having less impact on
games and perhaps that is why Stan has been looking for another striker. The rest of the
team were all making contributions, but we knew that Preston would come at us harder in
the second half. One other slight moan would be that even though it was a Lancashire
derby, the atmosphere was somewhat muted, even among the Claret faithful. Perhaps they
found it difficult not to view this game as an hors d’oeuvre to what is undoubtedly
the main course next week.
The second half began with Moore running at the Preston defence whenever
he got the chance. A million pounds is not a lot of money in footballing parlance, and it
seems we could have a real bargain here.
Unfortunately, our worst fears were realised and Preston scored after only
five minutes of the second half. Macken received the ball on the edge of the area and
looked to have few options. He took the ball across the edge of the area and was allowed
far too much space to turn and shoot from a central position. The ball went high to
Michopoulos’ right while the keeper started moving to his left, leaving him
flat-footed. The only assumption that can be made is that the ball took a deflection.
Well, I hope it did otherwise it was worryingly inept goalkeeping. 1-1.
Burnley now seemed unsettled and the Preston fans were actually making
themselves heard at last. Almost from the restart, Rankine raced through untracked by the
Burnley midfield only to be foiled by another great save from Michopoulos. The free kick
scenario of the first half was then repeated. Moore received the ball with his back to
goal, turned and was fouled on the edge of the area. Davis lined up the free kick. Rankine
encroached. Free kick hit wall. What a waste.
Just under the hour, Jepson replaced Cook who had earlier been on the
receiving end of a heavy challenge from Gregan (who else?). Big Ronnie is probably a good
bloke to have in the dressing room or stood behind a linesman offering ‘impartial
advice’, but to bring on in a game like this? I’ll adopt the philosophy of
‘Stan knows best’.
Preston were now becoming more and more dominant and were putting the
Burnley defence under increasing pressure. Maylett put in a last ditch tackle to concede a
corner, Thomas headed clear from underneath his own crossbar to concede another corner
from which the inevitable happened and Preston duly took the lead. The ball was played
short to Alexander who was allowed too much space to skip past Weller and fire a shot from
a tight angle into the roof of the net.
For the final 25 minutes, Burnley tried to get something out of the game
but never really looked like troubling Lucas. Mullin, who had come on for the tiring
Maylett, had one half-chance, and Davis had another free kick about 25 yards out which
flew over the crossbar. (At least he got it over the wall this time.)
The final whistle came and Preston ran out deserved winners. (God, that
stuck in my craw.)
Obviously, it’s always disappointing to lose, but such results should
be seen in context. The only team outside of the top ten to beat us away this season are
Wolves, and that day we were unlucky to get nothing. No team has won at the Turf, and with
important home games against B***tard Rovers and Bolton to come, the table may have a
different complexion come Christmas. Actually, as we walked to Preston station, we
discovered that some of the teams around us had also lost or drawn and we were still only
four points behind Bolton who are in second place. So every cloud etc etc.
On the train front, we caught the 17:41 from Preston and, after changing
at Crewe, we finally arrived back at Euston at about 23:40 beaten, but, on this particular
day, unbowed.
Roll on next Sunday. Bring on the B***tards!
