It was only 72 hours since the poor home performance against West Brom. To be fair, the second half of that game had shown some signs of improvement, with Little, Weller and Blake all coming into the picture. A lot of people say that Little is our key man, and this is true to a certain extent, but without his partner in crime, Weller, he is often below his best. The two are apparently thick as thieves off the field, and it shows in their knowledge of each other's play. They do tend to bring the best out of one another and also Dean West, who has probably been our most consistent performer during the recent slump.
Why had all the slick passing, driving runs and incisive moves disappeared? Where was the tenacious tackling and hard pressing of that great day at Coventry? The players were all pretty much the same, but the play had become stilted and anxious recently. The KK Man City game seemed to have dented the confidence rather more than we thought. Whereas previously Cox and Arthur had been imperious, they were now hesitant, and standing off players. Stan realised that something had to change, and I thought he might drop Bally, or possibly rest Arthur, as both had looked a little tired recently. But with time so short between the two games, could Stan do enough?
I had plenty of time to ponder all these things during a horrific journey. Firstly I was delayed by a couple of agencies calling me regarding jobs. I didn't mind this, but it did mean that I wouldn't get to Watford until 6.30. Then I missed my connection at Clapham Junction. No train for another hour, so back on the train to Vauxhall. Had to buy an excess ticket as I was now going via London. Northbound Victoria line suspended due to defective train. So, back on the train to Waterloo, then tube to Euston, and eventually the train arrived in Watford at 7.25. For someone who could have been there when the pub opened this was verging on the ridiculous. Was this an omen? A sign of things to come, perhaps? Two of the fastest pints ever, despite being a little out of breath from the jog to the pub, and I was off again, this time for Vicarage Road.
Arriving at the ground, a large number of Clarets had turned up to pay on the day, and so a sizeable queue had formed at the two turnstiles that had been opened. It looked like we would miss the kick-off. Thankfully, sense prevailed, the concessions turnstile was used and the queue started to move more rapidly. Once inside we took our seats, which were quite roomy in comparison most other grounds I could mention. In fact, I could for once sit in the seat properly without having to scrunch my legs up or sit at an angle of 45 degrees. We were sat behind the goal that Burnley were defending in the first half, with a scoreboard and clock to our left and a video screen to our right. All in all it's quite a pleasant ground, and having been there twice I had not seen us lose. Ok, so the first game was postponed, but I'll take any good luck omens I can and just ignore the bad ones.
It was also almost exactly two years to the day that Glen Little scored the best goal I have seen at Turf Moor. With the game at nil-nil and only ten Clarets on the pitch it was the turning point for us and for Bristol Rovers that season. They were in the automatic promotion place and we were struggling to get into the play-offs. History shows how the two teams have fared since. Rovers missed the play-offs and were relegated last season, and are now struggling in the Third Division. I am a great believer in the fact that one incident can make a difference, not only to a single game but to a whole season, and here it came in the 65th minute - but more of that later.
The game had just kicked off, and the most noticeable thing was that Cox had been dropped to the bench and Branchy was in at left back. Stan had shaken things up a bit. Would it work? I was immediately concerned as to how Branchy would manage against Jermaine Pennant, the on-loan Arsenal youngster. He is a quick, tricky winger, and good with both feet. The Clarets lined up in the white change strip as follows:
The subs were warming up by the corner flag in front of us, and we could see Cox, Blake, Armstrong and Maylett. I don't recall seeing the fifth sub, but as he didn't come on it doesn't matter, although I would guess that it was Cooky.
Watford included Ramon Vega, Micah Hyde, Marcus Gayle and Gifton Noel-Williams, but the player who really caught the eye in the first half was the young left winger, Lee Cook, who showed good pace and tremendous skill, but fortunately no end product.
The game settled into a pattern with Burnley having the lion's share of the possession and passing the ball swiftly to feet. We looked sharp. There was movement and there was a pace and a passion about our play as we pressed and harried and snapped into tackles when we didn't have the ball. So different from recent games, and Stan had indeed worked his magic. The Watford midfield never had time to settle, so had to get the ball forward rather too quickly, and Arthur and Bally were much tighter to their men than we have seen recently from our defenders. When Pennant and Cook got the ball at their feet and ran at the full backs they did look dangerous, but West and Branchy coped pretty well. Our midfield were playing their usual fluid formation with Briscoe, Little and Weller often switching positions during the course of play.
The biggest problem with our play was in the final third, where we failed to create a single decent opening. Everything went well to the edge of the box, but we couldn't work a position for a shot. Time and again the final ball failed to find it's target or a tackle stopped the attack just as we were on our feet. Credit Watford with some good defending as well as the Clarets being a little too anxious around the box. Then a nice flowing move resulted in Branchy steaming down the left towards the by-line, where instead of crossing he turned back, and the moment was lost. Still it was only a matter of time before we scored as we were playing so confidently and Watford were hardly in the game.
Then totally against the run of play Watford scored. Hyde picked up the ball ten yards from the left-hand corner of our box, and for once we were a little slow shutting him down. After advancing a few yards he played a ball inside Branchy, who had too much space between himself and Arthur. Branchy was caught half on the turn and in no-man's-land as Pennant made a diagonal run in behind him. As Arthur came across to shut Pennant down he took the ball inside onto his left foot and curled a superb shot into the top far corner of the net, giving Marlon no chance. In a few seconds the good work had been undone, and we were now chasing the game.
Immediately, Stan once again showed his ruthless streak and his willingness to change his tactics early in a game. Branch was taken off and replaced by Blake, as the Clarets went 4-3-3 with Briscoe reverting to left back to counteract the dangerous Pennant. Either it didn't seem to work or Watford were now playing with more confidence, as they managed a few half-chances. Cook was giving West a hard time, but with help from Weller, Fred was sticking to his task. Blake was struggling to get into the game, and we looked more disjointed than previously. Unlucky to be one down at half time, then, but a much better performance than we had seen for some time.
The referee had been good, and preferred talking to players to booking them. Despite the odd decision here and there, he had been pretty fair and allowed a decent game of football to flow.
The second half started like the first, with the Clarets having most of the possession and pushing forward. Blake was getting more and more into the game and starting to link with Little and Weller. Taylor was winning his fair share of headers, but we always looked better when the ball was played to feet. This included Taylor, who made some neat lay-offs and link-up play. Then a good move put Taylor in a good position on the left-hand corner of the box in front of us. Unfortunately he curled a ball to the far post when the two supporting players were much nearer. It was the kind of cross that would have suited him, but poor play really. It was his last contribution, as he was substituted and Cox was brought on. Once again, Stan surprised us, as he replaced a centre forward with a defender, but I was bit disappointed that Taylor got a bad reaction from some of the fans around us. He always puts in the effort and some of his play was quite good. Not his best game for us, but not worth booing him, surely.
Ball went into midfield and we reverted to 4-4-2. No lumping the ball forward now as Blake and Moore were our midget attack. To be fair, we hadn't done that all evening, and the ball to feet seemed to be our best option.
The referee then made two appalling decisions. Firstly, Briscoe was unceremoniously pushed off the ball as he attempted to cross a ball from the by-line. It was inside the box and the ball rolled harmlessly into touch. All the Burnley fans went up, and all the referee had to do was decide whether it was a goal kick or a penalty. Instead he copped out and gave a corner. Then at the other end he gave Watford a penalty. The first foul appeared to be by the Watford player, and he looked like he was falling over. The Watford fans went up and the referee gave it. From my view, which was a long way away, it looked a terrible decision. This prompted songs from the Claret faithful that referee must be having 'relations' with a certain Watford supporting popstar.
Sixty-five minutes gone, and come the turning point I mentioned earlier. If there was one person I would want in goal at this stage it's Marlon. As we all know, his record is tremendous, and I think he has saved over half the penalties he has faced. If it goes in we are two-nil down and facing a mountain to climb. Whitto was imploring Marlon to dive left as the left-footed Gayle ran up. He duly put it to Marlon's left, and Marlon dived, and he saved it comfortably. A weak penalty, but still a good save, and justice had been done.
Perhaps that was the spur we needed, as the Clarets suddenly burst into life in the last third of the pitch. Aided by a few dodgy decisions from the referee we piled forward. Twice Blake twisted and turned inside the box and created an opening, but once he slipped, and the second time his shot was weak and straight at Chamberlain in the Watford goal.
A couple of desperate Watford fouls halted promising attacks, but the pressure was building. Then Glen was played through just outside the box in the centre. As three Watford defenders converged on him he neatly played the ball past the first and, it's fair to say, 'made the most' of the challenge. Ok, so it was a dive, as he was never going to get through, but the ref fell for it, and it was payback time. Recently our free kicks have been woeful, and I can't remember the last time we scored directly. This time, Brisser struck it well and it curled round the wall, but Chamberlain tipped it onto the inside of the post and it cannoned back out at 45 degrees across the goal. Of all people, Coxy was following up, and slammed the awkwardly bouncing ball into the net. It would have been easy to smash it high over the bar, but he hit it with real power and kept it down. It seemed to me like there might have been a bit of anger in that shot.
One-one and everything to play for, as they say.
The game opened up completely now, with play flowing from end to end. Watford had a couple of chances, with Marlon getting down well to a header, and another from a corner missing the far post, but overall Burnley looked the more likely winners. A superb move involving several Clarets but mainly the two Blakeys put Glen clean through the middle, but he dragged his shot inches wide of the post. We still weren't getting enough clear sights of goal or shots on target.
Maylett came on for a tired Robbie Blake to leave us with an even smaller attack force, but as time was ticking away the ball was down at the Burnley end deep into stoppage time. I was commenting on how it looked like we had spent all our energy, and Weller for one was looking tired, when the ball was cleared to Maylett on the right wing. He ran at the defence and got to the corner of the box, took on his defender and looked to play the ball to Moore on his inside, but the Watford defender Brown got his foot to the ball. Chamberlain was already diving outwards and had committed himself to the cross. The ball seemed to loop so slowly towards the goal. It was difficult from our angle to tell exactly where it was going, until it bounced almost on the line. Would it go in? Then a Burnley player appeared running into the six-yard box with no Watford player in sight. Paul Weller, who moments before seemed knackered, had run the length of the field to stoop and head the ball home from all of six inches. It would probably have gone in anyway, but just like Andy Payton always does, Weller made absolutely sure.
The celebrations in the away end and on the pitch showed what a lot it meant to all concerned. Watford barely had time to kick off, and it was all over. Just like at Oxford two years ago, Weller had scored a last minute header to clinch a 2-1 victory. Still, I always knew everything was going to be ok, as it was my birthday after all, and the boys wouldn't spoil it by losing would they?
Stan showed here why he is one of the best coaches in the country. He shook things up initially and sent the team out in a much more positive frame of mind than of late. Tactical changes were made when needed, and he is never afraid to make difficult decisions that might upset people. The team showed pride, passion and skill, and in the end we got the victory we deserved.
We now need 8 wins from 16 games to get to 78 points and a play-off place. Saturday at Barnsley will be tough, but we need to get a result. Come on you Clarets!
Scorers: Cox (71), Weller (93) / Pennant (23).
Attendance: 12,160.
Referee: David Furnish.
Cozzo's Man of the Match: Marlon Beresford - the penalty save was crucial.
Happy birthday to me!