Not too sure what any watching
Coventry spies might have made of this game, but parts were pretty good, mainly when
Little was involved. Do we care anyway? Relatively good crowd for a game close to Xmas,
with temperatures close to nowt and fairly unattractive opposition. Cardiff brought their
usual 50 away following. Wasn’t worth bothering opening up the Cricket Field Stand.
The Clarets pretty much at full strength, starting 4-4-2. Cardiff had one or two
experienced notables in their ranks: Hallworth, Eckhardt, Nugent and Humphreys from
Sheffield Wednesday, the latter on loan, out of sorts and eventually substituted. Vaughan
had returned back to Manchester City, which was reasonable news.
Cardiff started the brightest, as the Clarets struggled
to come to terms with the black gloves they were wearing, care of John Barnes couture.
Seemed to be a little bit slow to realise there was a game on. An early chance for the
Legend from a Cook free kick, a Mullin break and an Armstrong headed chance did not bother
the scorers, before a bizarre opener from the taffies. A none too dangerous effort from
one of their players (eyesight not what it used to be) was, I thought, blocked by Mitchell
Thomas. The ball however had different ideas, and ballooned over the Admirable and into
the net, to the eerie sound of silence. Is silence a sound, and if not how come Simon and
Garfunkel made millions out of it!
These Clarets are however made of stern stuff, and the
goal had no appreciable effect on the pass the ball routine. Little made one or two runs
before Stan took off West and reverted to wing-backs, with Branchy on the left. Cardiff
knocked the ball around, were solid defensively, but toothless up front. The equaliser
when it came was from a Paul Cook corner chested down by The Legend, then chest down
again, spin turn and shot into the net by Rivaldo (oops, Armstrong). Far too many beers
for me to digest that one properly! A brilliant run down the right by the Legend and a pin
point cross lead to a diving Mullin header inches wide. Crichton only one save of any note
in the half.
Half time, not too cold, off to the used ale repository
but not before a quick scream at the ex-Clarets on show. The infamous Panda returns to the
Turf, alias Jamie Hoyland! Good idea for a bit of HT entertainment, beats the dancing dogs
anyway.
Second half was all Burnley, but in particular Glen
Little. He demanded the ball, was given it early for a change and destroyed Cardiff.
Mellon, who was absolutely rubbish in this match, was taken off, to a crescendo from the
Claret faithful of ‘thank god for that’. Payton had a good effort saved early
on, but it was just a prelude to the second goal. Not sure how many people Little beat in
the 68th minute before his sublime chip to the far post for Johnrose to smash
in to the net. Cue bedlam. Watch it if you can, Gordon Strachan may do.
Continued to dominate this half with Branch overlapping
to effect, and everybody trying to get on the end of Glen’s devastation. The ball was
knocked around with gay abandon, and the taffies ran around chasing shadows, but no
further goals. The inevitable Jepson substitution with five minutes left led to a
battening down of the hatches, and a bit of pressure from Cardiff, but not worryingly so.
All over.
All in all a sound if unspectacular performance, Little
apart. Armstrong and Branch had good games, which is the first time I have said that, and
the centre backs, were, well the usual. Most people who expressed an opinion on this game
seemed to feel that Cardiff were particularly good opposition. Disagree. They
shouldn’t be relegated, but no more than that. Difficult to break down defensively,
as all lesser teams will be coming to the Turf now to the end of the season. Three points,
and a few pints at the Sparrow to ponder on 5th position.
