The Future's Orange, the Future's Blackpool
Walsall 0 Burnley 1
Report by Whitto
How difficult is it to write a match report on a well-deserved victory like this when, 48 hours later, the same bunch of players put in a spineless performance in capitulating to the mighty Watford at home? 'Bloody hard' is the answer - how quickly does the euphoric feeling dissipate.
There we were on that Saturday night after this hugely important and unexpected win. Safety was suddenly within our grasp, without the need to go down to the last nail-biting moments of this dire season. A home game against the less-than-impressive glory custard boys to come... and what do we do? We blow it. Back in the mixer go Burnley: bloody well spineless they are. And that pretty much sums up the season. If we go down, we will deserve to have gone down. There can be no doubt about it.
It was quite surprising how easy this victory was. Walsall didn't really challenge, their few chances coming from either Burnley mistakes (now, where have you heard that one before?) or free kicks around the edge of the area, some of which were awarded somewhat generously by the referee.
The first half was fairly even. Walsall couldn't get going, and Burnley tentatively probed away. It is unusual to be able to say that most of the play was up the other end - the end we were attacking. At times, we found it difficult to break their defence down, and Ian Moore and Glen Little were constantly finding themselves dropping too deep. Walker, in the Saddlers' goal, had to be at his best to keep out a couple of speculative shots as Burnley took control.
Walsall's one chance of the half came from a Branch mistake (never!) which was compounded by a Jensen mistake (you don't say!). Branch was dragged over to the left-hand side, where the Saddlers' wide man ghosted past him and put a simple cross into the middle of the six-yard box. It was a bread-and-butter cross for a First Division goalie, but this is Brian Jensen. He attempted a punch, which, unsurprisingly, he missed; the ball fell to the lacklustre Merson, who tried to curl it into the top right-hand corner of the goal. I will credit Jensen here with a fine save - sadly, it came from his own mistake. Never mind, Brian: only five games to go in an ever-present First Division season. It is truly unbelievable that such a poor, inconsistent goalkeeper is, barring injury, going to play in every game.
Mind you, our reserve keeper (if I remember rightly) is even worse than our Danish hero. Nathan Abbey sums up Stan Ternent and his record of poor signings. This keeper is probably the worst goalie I have ever seen. Admittedly I haven't (thankfully) had the opportunity to see him for a few seasons now, but he would have had to improve 1000% just to be decent. Let's face it: he was at Stevenage. I can't imagine there was a rush for his signature. How ridiculous it is that Ternent wasted a loan on Paul Rachubka, a quality keeper, who had to warm the bench for a month whilst the Beast of Bodmin floundered in goal. What on earth was the man thinking of? He did the same thing with Bradley Orr - what was the point in him playing in our reserves when he could have been playing for Newcastle's second string? That was simply poor management, and smacks of panic signings just to get the numbers up.
It is nothing less than criminal that Ternent (and Kilby, for that matter) allowed a First Division club to start a season with such a thin squad. Is it any wonder we have struggled to compete? The squad that we have has relied heavily on Robbie Blake: without him, we would be already relegated. Richard Chaplow has shown much promise, and his performances have been a bonus; sadly, due to his age and his heavy workload, he is now injured. It is no surprise, and it is amazing he has lasted so long.
We have played the majority of the season with no defence. I refuse to accept that Mo Camara is a left back or that Graham Branch is a professional footballer; David May is injury-prone and has lost all pace, and Lee Roche and Dean West wouldn't make a right back between them. Mark McGregor has been the only chink of light in the back line, but played out of position and constantly made the scapegoat by Ternent for Branch's cock-ups (far too many to list here - please refer to previous match reports). McGregor has played to a decent standard: perhaps he might even get a game at right back some time.
Strangely, the defence had few problems today - but Burnley seem to do this more and more often: one week we capitulate defensively, and the next we are relatively secure. It is simply not good enough.
At half time it was goalless. We were on top - and should have gone in front when Wood was allowed to shoot from 12 yards, but he screwed it wide with only the goalie to beat.
After the break, we once again dominated but still couldn't find the finishing touch. Then came the breakthrough. Wood picked up the ball just outside the area and set off towards the penalty spot; Burley came across and took him out. It was a clear penalty, and (strangely, nowadays) none of the Walsall players argued too much. Blake stepped up to take the penalty. The tension in the crowd was immense: this could be a huge moment in the season. Blake put the ball to Walker's right: it was in from the moment it left his boot. Walker went the other way, and we were one up.
Soon after, Ian Moore almost extended the lead. He turned from wide of the goal, about eight yards out, and hit a shot which curled inches wide of the Walsall goal, with Walker missing. Soon after, Moore was withdrawn for Chadwick, and then came the Clarets' best chance to extend the lead. The ball fell to Weller, nine yards out, with a free shot on goal... and he missed his kick. This pretty much sums up Weller: he is simply not good enough for this level. It was truly a dreadful miss, and not to even get in a shot was appalling. Perhaps next season he will rediscover his level. Anyway, Ternent had obviously grown weary of his powder-puff display (next to Prince Powder-Puff himself, Tony Grant), and subbed him for Richard Chaplow. Chaplow, who had been doubtful before the game, lasted a full five minutes before he made way with injury for Lenny Johnrose. You really couldn't make it up - who does the fitness tests?
Walsall threw on the delightfully-named McSporran, and went forward without really causing any problems. Towards the end, they gained a series of dangerous free kicks, but wasted them all - had no-one told them it was Brian Jensen in goal? McSporran had one shot which flashed across goal, and with which he should have done better, but that really was their last meaningful chance. Three minutes of injury time followed (which, thankfully, was three minutes) - and we had the points.
In truth, this game just papers over the cracks. We gave ourselves the opportunity to ease the pressure and put it all in our hands, but blew it 48 hours later. Ternent huffed and puffed, as he always does; he tells us he will make the necessary changes... who? Alan bloody Moore? Luke Chadwick? Nathan Abbey? Or perhaps the terminally-injured Adebola? Get real, Ternent. It's all hot air. You have cut your own throat with your decision to start the season, and continue throughout, with such a depleted squad. Regardless of the outcome of the season, Ternent's kingdom is crumbling around him.
If the unthinkable does happen, we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking we can come straight back. The Board will be delighted to sell Robbie Blake and Richard Chaplow; Ian Moore will probably end up with his dad; and Glen Little will be gone, regardless. The future is not bright. Let Sheffield Wednesday be a lesson to us all: it is not easy to return. Unfortunately, now our fate may be taken out of our hands.
Burnley: Jensen, Camara, McGregor, Branch, Roche, Wood, Weller (Chaplow, 70 (Johnrose, 77)), Grant, Little, Blake, Ian Moore (Chadwick, 82).
Subs not used: Abbey, Alan Moore.
Scorer: (Burnley) Blake 56 (pen).
Referee: S G Bennett (Orpington).
Attendance: 7,769.
Whitto's Man of the Match: Robbie Blake.
As with all articles on the site, the views expressed in the match reports section are those of the individual contributor, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Burnley FC London Supporters' Club.
