Playing a football match the night before the
long trip to Burnley is never a good idea, especially as it is normally followed by
several pints of Guinness and a very late night. For this reason I drove home from the
footy, so I had very little to drink. Good idea, as there was lots of tequila and whisky
drinking for birthdays going on and I would never have made it to the game.
I haven't been this sensible in ages, so I soon stopped that by not going
to bed until 4 am. Consequently woke, still very tired and stiff as a board (oooh er,
missus) to the sound of heavy rain beating down on my window (as some song or other goes).
Opted for the over-trousers and raincoat to get to the station without getting too wet,
but couldn't find the coat and had to resort to a lovely silver skiing jacket which hasn't
seen the light of day for some time. Still, it did the job and I eventually found the coat
on Monday in the same bag that I had left it in.
All goes to show I wasn't really with it, but I had remembered the all
important limited edition London Clarets (ä) T-shirts. Very
smart they are too and extremely reasonably priced at only £10 + £2 p+p from your
friendly Chairman or in person at many of the upcoming games. Has London Clarets logo on
front breast pocket area and list of pubs for away games on the back. So if you already
had one, you would know where to meet us to buy another one! (Slight flaw in our sales and
marketing strategy there I feel ).
Got to Euston to meet a bedraggled Benyon bemoaning how wet he was from
the walk to the station. As the 8.20 via Preston was full we were having to go via
Manchester. The train wasn't ready and when it finally was the engine had to be replaced.
Lots of questions from the 'So you think you're a Claret ?' book purchased recently in
Sportspages helped pass the time. Not a bad book as the questions do vary in difficulty
enormously although there are one or two errors (according to Benny and who would disagree
?)
After going through engineering works, we were delayed still further and
looking at a considerably shortened stay in Burnley. Benny pointed out as we travelled
through Milton Keynes that it was five hours since he had got out of bed and he could have
walked from Bedford in less time had he been so inclined. (Next time then Benny, please ?)
Most people were looking forward to the game with some optimism although
we all knew it wasn't going to be easy. The only expected change was Cookey for Branch as
Smith had recovered from a dead leg at Bristol. But most thought that he may stick with
the team that had been doing quite well. Being a home game, we expected a much more
positive attitude than at the Bristol bore draw and possibly even a little bit of
entertainment.
As the train pulled into Piccadilly, some time had been caught up, Benny's
hat had nearly dried out and there was a chance we might make the next bus. Fortunately,
it wasn't raining anymore and a Woody-led sprint got most of us to the bus in the nick of
time. It started raining again and as we came over the moors and started our descent down
the hill into Burnley, it was the reporters' stereotypical 'dour, grey East Lancashire day
limiting one's view over a dour, grey East Lancashire town' or it would have been if I
could have seen anything through the misted-up windows of the bus.
Still in good heart, we went through the usual pre-match rituals of pint
at The White Lion, pie and peas at The Sparrow (still only £1.75; well they have partly
sponsored the T-shirts, so better give them a plug), four pints of foaming ale and Tiger
Feet on the jukebox. A few T-shirts sold and it was off to the game. The team was
unchanged, so Cookey remained on the bench. Both teams started brightly with Brentford
attacking the goal at the Jimmy McIlroy Stand end. An early cross from the right gave
Brentford's Paul Evans a chance just inside the box. Fortunately, his first-time
side-footed effort flashed just wide of Crichton's right-hand post. A timely block from
Thomas, who was again majestic and a volley well wide and over the bar were Brentford's
only other memorable efforts in the first half.
After being second best for the first 10 or 15 minutes, the Clarets
stepped up a gear and began to look dangerous: teasing crosses from Smith on the left and
Little threatening on the right; Cook prompting from the middle and even Armstrong, having
undoubtedly his best game so far this season, stepping forward into the midfield to
provide some ammo. The goal had been coming for some time when a simple pass to Little
left him facing two Brentford defenders to get past to get a cross in. Now, in this
situation I've seen Little fall over without getting to the defenders. I've seen him
tackled and I've seen him lay a simple ball off to someone else, but when he attacks them
and without knowing how or why, he ends up past both defenders and putting a cross into
the box for Payton to head home, it simply takes your breath away. Even from the opposite
end of the ground. Make no mistake, Payton's movement to lose his marker and headed finish
were excellent. Especially, when you consider he was up against two of the most highly
rated defenders in the division who are apparently attracting interest from Wimbledon.
However the goal will be remembered for the inspiration of Glen Little.
Even West and Mellon are finally realising that, if we want to score, give
the ball to Little and something will happen. Probably, not the first time, but do it
often enough and he will provide. As he did for the second goal with just over half an
hour gone. A deep cross from the right was flicked on by one of the Brentford defenders
only to land on Paul Cook's head at the far post where his excellent reactions guided the
ball back across the keeper into the net.
At this stage Burnley were oozing confidence, passing slickly and
threatening whenever they went forward. Even Davis and Thomas were managing occasionally
sorties into opposition territory and I really felt that a third goal would have killed
the game. But we couldn't quite get through that last line of defence to threaten their
keeper and deliver the killer punch. Full credit to Brentford who defended manfully and as
half-time arrived, retreated gratefully to the sanctuary of the dressing room.
If the first half was some of the best play I've seen from Burnley this
season, then the start of the second half was some of the most mediocre. It was almost
like the half-time team talk was 'just play out the second half, don't give anything away
and we've got three points'. I'm sure it wasn't anything of the sort but whereas
previously we were attacking with commitment, now players were waiting for things to
happen, waiting for someone else to make the move. Consequently, passes were going astray
and there was no pattern to the play from either side as we were still defending well and
preventing Brentford from making any chances. However, as soon as we got the ball, we gave
it away.
Then came the turning point of the game. Armstrong, out towards the left
hand side, knocked the ball back to Crichton without looking, only for it to be
intercepted by Scott Partridge. I think he still hadn't regained position after previously
shutting down a Crichton clearance. His chipped finish was superb and suddenly there was a
crisis. 2-1 and Brentford back in the game. It was a shame for Armstrong who up until that
point had been playing well, even by Woody's later admission.
The Claret's response? Go into away mode and defend what you've got. Which
to be honest they did quite well. The strange substitution of Johnrose for Smith meant
Davis played almost at left back in a semi 4-4-2 formation and the side had no balance,
with attacks limited down that side. A few minor scares but Crichton rarely called into
action and it looked like we might get away with it. The only moment of real tension was
an excellently worked free kick where two quick passes and a man peeling off the end of
the wall got in behind the Claret's defence. Luckily his cross didn't match the move and
the first defender cut it out.
So, generally, it wasn't good to watch but with Brentford's forwards
looking lively I felt they always had a chance. When it did come though, the chance was
from an unexpected source. With just under ten minutes to go, a Clarets' pass in midfield
struck the referee and fell to Paul Evans, he of the 62.1 yard goal against Preston last
week. From the Jimmy Mac stand we couldn't see how far out it was when he hit the shot, we
could just see Crichton not getting anywhere near it and the ball sailing into the net. No
blame on Crichton, it was a magnificent goal. Apparently only 45 yards this week, so Evans
must be losing his touch, but then he had missed the target from 15 yards in the first
half.
Cooke and Mullin had replaced Branch and the once again anonymous Mellon
and a late flurry provided both substitutes with decent half chances which neither could
take. All in all, disappointment at the final result, but a very good showing in the first
half proved that we are capable of dispatching even the better teams in this division on
our day. A bad mistake and two excellent finishes from Brentford meant that being the
better team overall didn't gain the reward we probably deserved. The warning is there that
we must kill teams off when we have the chance and not rely on solid defending to keep the
opposition out. You can never legislate for that little bit of luck or sublime inspiration
or both.
On the train home feelings were mixed. Some felt we threw the game away,
others were more of the opinion above that Brentford made the most of the limited
opportunities we gave them and overall it was ok, but not great. Roll on Scunthorpe on Sky
where hopefully we can produce the big win that we know the boys are capable of.
