Usual half day off work, 400 mile drive, but this
time in the company of the new London Clarets Chairman, and in reasonable spirits for a
Burnley cup match. Wasn’t really impressed with the Wycombe performance, but felt the
team were certainly capable of better. In fact I was more concerned about where to park
safely in Moss Side, and also which of the thousands of curry houses in Rusholme would
receive my patronage.
The pre-match pint centred around the various usual claret topics of
conversation, and would have included John Trippier, if I hadn’t given him the wrong
meeting pub directions. Senility is my only excuse. Five at the back seemed in order, as
did the benching of Branch so that at least we could play with eleven men, and Cowan to
mark Terry Cooke. Hiding away when the going gets tough got a mention, which given what
was to follow was remarkably prescient.
Maine Road was fairly empty, but the usual prats were there in force,
separated by only an open gangway from the Claret faithful. In short time this was manned
by a row of stewards. When will these people ever learn?. One or two surprises in the
Claret team, as always with Stan. Cookey and Mullin injured, Branch to support Cowan in
dealing with Cooke, and four at the back. City much as last year, ex the new £1.5 million
signing Kennedy who had a roving role up front.
Clarets started very brightly and at pace, which set City back a bit.
Johnrose playing anchor in midfield released Mellon to play much further forward. Both
Payton and Mellon went close with good efforts, but ominously Kennedy, Dickov and Goater,
with prompting from Hurlock and Cooke were beginning to pull the Clarets defence around.
Crichton got booked for not clearing a troublesome through ball high into the Kippax,
choosing instead to head into touch, and then shove the ball under his jumper on his way
back to goal. Weaver in the City goal made a couple of good saves before City opened the
scoring after 36 minutes. Tiatto, the full back, found Horlock, who squared across goal
for any one of three unmarked City players to score. The inevitable Goater obliged.
Onwards and upwards to half time with more chances for Payton and a good save by Weaver
from Mellon. Even the pro City radio commentary from Jimmy Armfield admitted Clarets
should have been in front.
The performance had been a good team effort with Johnrose athletic, Payton
buzzing up front, and Mellon getting into good scoring positions. On the negative side,
City were threatening up front, and Little was not getting the better of Tiatto, and had
resorted to picking the ball up nearer and nearer to our back four rather than theirs.
Branch was crap, but fortunately City’s Cooke was having an off day, and Cowan was
coping, just.
Our boys won the penalty shoot out at half time against the City mascot,
who was dressed up in some sort of rodent outfit. Think I prefer Bertie Bee. Well almost!
Almost straight after the re-start, indecision in the Burnley back four
led to an unnecessary corner, which somehow got back to Kennedy on the left hand corner of
our box, unmarked. He then, unchallenged, smashed a right footed shot which cannoned in
off the far post past an unsighted Admirable. Cross? Good goal though and deserved for
easily City’s best player.
A period of Burnley pressure followed following Branch’s substitution
by Lee. Then an unnecessary challenge by Thomas on Dickov in the area led to a successful
Horlock penalty in the 62nd minute. The white flag was promptly unfurled, and
the rabbits ran off to the warren, leaving the Claret faithful to listen to ‘Lets all
laugh at Burnley’ and umpteen renditions of ‘We want six’. As Mr Corrigan
wanted to watch a bit more of the game, and I couldn’t get past him, the seats being
incredibly narrow, the Three Goal Rule was flouted. I had promised Firmo a full report
anyway. Jepson and Grant then entered the fray, to little effect. Hadn’t long to wait
for the fourth as City took the Michael Mouse out of our professional football team,
before a headed goal from substitute Taylor, completely unmarked in the six yard box,
prompted Mr Corrigan to move in the direction of the exit. Apparently Kennedy scored again
before the end, and City missed a couple more chances.
It has to be said in some mitigation that City are now a very decent side,
apart from Morrison, who now must be the fattest, slowest and heaviest centre half I have
seen in some time. Perfect for Payton. The lack of marking in our box apparent at times at
Wycombe, where Devine and McJock were gifted a few openings, was very apparent here. The
diagonal runs prompted by Hurlock had our defence chasing shadows, and it has to be said
that Thomas and ‘The Legend’ at centre back both had nightmares. Was impressed
by Johnrose and Payton, certainly in the first half, and Mellon before he did his usual
disappearing act when things go wrong. The white flag episode from professional players
however is unforgivable.
Anyway, we always lose in the Cup. Roll on Chesterfield.
