Just look at that scoreline.
Doesnt it look great? So much so I think Ill write it again:
Burnley 3 Preston North End 0
Very satisfying and just what the doctor ordered
after that embarrassing drubbing down at Deadwood last week.
It had seemed that match reports and me didnt
mix, as the previous three Ive done had all resulted in defeat including the
reverse fixture at Deepdale, where a terrific Ian Moore goal was to no avail as we slipped
to a 2-1 loss.
Although Im an optimist by nature, I cant
say I was particularly looking forward to this fixture. The signs were not good. Preston
are a bogey side we havent beaten since a last minute Neil Moore header at Deepdale
back in 1998 secured a 3-2 victory, and a look at the form table told me that they have
won seven and only lost one of their last ten matches. Oh, and the Sky TV cameras were
there, and we all know what that usually means.
The evening hadnt started auspiciously as we had
taken over an hour more than usual to drive from Colchester. A delay of almost Virginesque
proportions caused by a multitude of irritating roadworks throughout the route meant that
we arrived at the Sparrow Hawk parched and in desperate need of liquid sustenance. This
was provided in the form of Moorhouses Black Cat mild a fine Burnley ale if
ever there was one, and surely a good luck omen?
The pre-match build-up on Sky was shown in the bar, and
we were treated to a second viewing of something we had been trying all week
to forget Im sure you know what I mean. A painful experience, which was only
alleviated by the appearance on screen of that well-known TV pundit Rocket
Ronnie Jepson, who talked of the Gaffer and the lads in that
peculiar form of English that footballers use.
Anyway, to the game.
On taking up our seats in the James Hargreaves stand,
we noticed the pitch was in a pretty poor condition, especially in a line down the middle
between the two penalty areas. The expensive state-of-the-art covers, which
had been damaged some weeks ago, must still be out of action or severely impaired. Maybe a
little compensation is in order.
The teams were duly announced and Burnley lined up as
follows:
The big surprise in the Burnley side was the inclusion
of forgotten man Dean West, who hasnt graced the starting line-up since
Scunthorpe last May. Injuries to Thomas, Briscoe and Branch had given him, along with Paul
Smith, the opportunity to stake a claim for the rest of the season and enhance the
possibility of a new contract. According to rumour, both these players are high on the
list of possible summer departures.
The Preston team lined up as follows:
Cresswell Macken Healy
McKenna Rankine Cartwright
Edwards Murdock Gregan Alexander
Moilanen
Subs: Lucas, Barry-Murphy, Gunnlaugsson,
Anderson, Kidd.
Clearly, Preston had been watching a video of last
weekends match and thought that all-out attack, via a 4-3-3 formation, was the right
tactical approach. I cant say Id disagree but it was good to see that Gregan
was in defence, where it seems he has much less impact on a game.
The game started brightly, and after a few skirmishes
Burnley took a surprise early lead. After a good one-two between West and Little close to
the touchline, Little found himself with space to run into and, after holding off a
challenge from McKenna, put in a superb low, curling cross from the right-hand side of the
penalty box, between keeper and defence. Moore, who had lost his defender, didnt
have to break stride as he put the ball high and wide of Moilanen to give the Clarets the
perfect start. Ian Moore must love playing against Preston, as he has now scored in each
of his three games against them this season.
Within a few minutes, the erratic Moilanen came close
to presenting Burnley with a gift after he almost spilled a back header from Edwards. Had
Ian Moore been alert, he could have benefited.
The game began to settle and Preston began to command
possession and territory but could not break down a well-organised and determined Burnley
rearguard. Midway through the first half, Macken had a shot deflected over by Cox, which,
had it gone anywhere else, would have left Michopoulos stranded. Shortly after, Cresswell
saw his header go just over the bar, although it did look as though Michopoulos had it
covered. The Preston fans, bless them, had thought theyd equalised, as the ball
touched the top of the net. Close, but no cigar.
Balls battle in midfield with Rankine was pivotal
and, as the game wore on, it was good to see the Burnley man getting the better of it with
the mouthy Rankine getting more frustrated by the minute. It was plain to see that Ball
was determined to put last week behind him and he didnt hold back from a few
crunching challenges, one of which unfortunately brought him a yellow card.
After about 30 minutes, a weak defensive back header
from Murdock left Moilanen sprinting to make the clearance, with Taylor bearing down on
him. Moilanen made it to the ball first and managed to clear but not without a cost, as
Taylor followed through and caught the lanky Finns ankle. It wasnt a malicious
challenge and the ball was there to be won, so he had no choice but to go for it. Taylor
received a yellow card but Moilanen had to go off to be replaced by the chunky
Lucas.
With Burnley having the extra man in midfield, they
always looked a threat with Little and Weller taking advantage of the extra space. Only an
inability to find the final pass prevented some promising attacks from yielding more.
A corner from the right saw Lucas fumble and the ball
almost fell to Cox, but Burnley didnt have to wait long before doubling their lead.
After 43 minutes a ball out to the right found West, who had to gallop to keep it in play.
He somehow managed to wrap his foot around it and produce a superb dipping, in-swinging
cross and Taylor, whod got in front of his marker, headed firmly downwards. It
looked a certain goal but Lucas produced an excellent save to deny him. However, the ball
ran loose to the on-rushing Ball, whose low shot produced another fine save. Ball
wasnt to be denied, though, and managed to tuck the rebound away for his first goal
in a Claret shirt. Cue delirium, as Hego would say.
During the Bastards game, their fans had been chanting
"Youre just a town full of Dingles." Apparently, the Dingles are a family
from the TV programme Emmerdale who are somewhat intellectually challenged
but Ive only heard this second-hand, so dont quote me! Anyway, being
unoriginal, the Preston fans had picked up on this and were using the same chant. However,
it was sweet to be able to reply with "Blackpool whats the score?"
Preston reverted to a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation at
the start of the second half with Anderson replacing Macken, and it was he who had
Prestons only two remaining efforts, both of which he blazed over the bar either
side of the hour mark.
For the majority of the second half, Burnley were happy
to concede possession and territory and defend in numbers. Moore was tireless in closing
down defenders, Ball constantly chased and harried, Weller and Little were always a threat
on the break, and the back four, including West and Smith, looked solid and composed.
Michopoulos had a quiet night and relieved the tedium by bursting Preston balloons in his
penalty area.
Ternent kept barking out orders to the team to play
further upfield, as all too frequently we were defending close to the penalty area. In
response to this, he decided to make it even harder for Preston by flooding the midfield,
and replaced Moore with Mullin on 66 minutes.
On 73 minutes, Burnley made the game safe. Mullin took
the ball down the left flank and, cleverly, passed the ball back inside to Cook, who had
time and space to deliver a ball into the Preston penalty area. This was only half-cleared
and Little, from only 15 yards out, shot low and hard past Lucas. Cue ecstacy!
Almost straight from the kick-off, Gregan produced a
poor defensive header that fell to Gareth Taylor. He outpaced Murdock, and from a central
position looked certain to make it 4-0, but screwed his shot wide of the post. Oh well,
mustnt be greedy. 3-0 will do.
The rest of the game gradually petered out, and our
first derby win of the season was secured.
Make no mistake, this was an extremely good performance
and restored a large chunk of local pride after last week. Although talk of the play-offs
is probably wide of the mark, we now have a platform for the remaining seven games of the
season.