Arsenal reject has the last
laugh
Burnley 2 Notts County 1, 8 April 2000
Cozzo
We are now into that stage of the
season where nothing but wins are going to be good enough if we going to have an outside
chance of automatic promotion. This game was all about the play-offs as a win for us would
realistically eliminate Notts County and reduce the field to six for four places plus the
second automatic spot (assuming Preston will get one of the top two places). Looking at
the fixture list I couldn't see anybody else dropping points, and so if we didn't win we
would be scrambling just for a play-off spot in the last six games.
If games in the run-in are all about getting
points and performances don't matter then Saturday was a good day. For the second home
game running an injury time goal gained us points; only this time it was three rather than
one. The strange thing was that it wasn't a nervy performance in which we somehow
scrambled the winner. I felt we played some of our best football of the season and should
have been out of sight before County's equaliser. Fifteen minutes from the end the County
defenders and goalkeeper were stood looking at each other with hands on hips, shaking
their heads at another missed chance from Burnley and wondering how they were supposed to
stop them. A point for them would have been a travesty but we've done it a few times so
could we complain?
A dozen London Clarets made the trip and
travelled from sunny London through the sunny midlands to the stereotypical overcast,
colder and drizzly northern day. As Benny was present we made the connection at Preston
with minutes to spare and even got onto the platform before the Burnley train arrived.
(Woody contemplated a nine minute pint in Preston but wisely thought better of it.) Talk
was of whether Wright returning from suspension would start or whether Stan would continue
with Branchy after an encouraging performance at Cardiff. Mullin, Cooke and Armstrong were
all doubtful so Mellon for Mullin was the likeliest change, unless Branch moved to the
back to allow for Wrighty and Smithy dropped to the bench, which would have been harsh. As
it happened Mellon was the only switch from the starting line-up at Cardiff as Stan
resisted tinkering too much. Little was playing his last game before a three game break as
a result of his sending-off last week and the bench consisted of Lee, Jepson, Mullin,
Wright and West.
We had hardly got into our seats as Burnley
started attacking towards us in the Jimmy McIlroy stand, when a ball straight down the
right-hand edge of the box as we looked at it allowed Branch to make a run from the centre
and whip in a low cross to the near post, where Payton bundled the ball in at a
frighteningly slow speed as the keeper to seemed to dive in slow motion across his goal
and out of the way. To be fair to Payton a defender arrived from behind him at the same
time as the ball and prevented him getting a clean contact, but it was in and we were 1-0
up. In time honoured fashion our very own Tottenham steward Smiffy managed to miss the
goal as he never arrives for kick-off.
After that I fully expected them to come at us
(or us to sit back and defend. I'm never sure which way round it is!) but the game settled
into a midfield duel with both teams probing without looking too threatening. We certainly
looked reasonably comfortable at the back, although they did have quite a bit of the ball.
The difference seemed to be that all of our midfield were up for the game. Cook was
getting a lot of the ball and using it quite well. Mellon was buzzing about making the odd
tackle and, when given the opportunity, driving forward quite well. Johnrose was playing a
more positive game and trying to contribute more than just the occasional lunge or header.
Up front Branch was doing some good running and
flicking the ball on well, but he does get knocked off the ball too easily sometimes.
Meanwhile Payton was harrying defenders and generally making a nuisance of himself. Then
from a free kick on the left Paul Cook picked out Payton, who had drifted between two
defenders, and as he headed the ball down we all went up fully expecting a goal as it was
Payton after all. Unfortunately he didn't get enough power into it and it bounced up too
slowly, and the keeper moved across to collect it.
Half-time and a comfortable 1-0 lead, but that
safety margin of a second goal was definitely needed. Excellent to see one of the best
players I have ever seen for the Clarets, Trevor Steven, return to the club to make the
half time draw and what a great reception he received.
I don't know what Stan said to them during the
break but they were on fire after the restart; Little and Smith were seeing a lot more of
the ball and peppering the box with crosses. Little seemed able to beat his man at will
and even a second when they doubled up on him. Our midfield was running forward for a
change and linking with the attack and we were creating chances. But we couldn't score.
Either the final effort was fluffed and we missed the target or the keeper made a great
save. County could hardly get out of their half and then Payton was played through for a
one-on-one chance - and believe it or not he didn't score! It was on target, but again the
keeper rescued County and it was still 1-0.
Lee replaced Branch and still we marched
forward; a brilliant run from Little ended with three Clarets in the six yard box and we
must score; but no, another great save from the keeper and a linesman's flag keep the
score to 1-0 and you know that at some point they are going to get a chance. Wright
replaces Payton to a standing ovation and Jepson is on for Cook (last week's sweep has
been held as a rollover but as yet I have no official timing - The Prof has it as 76 mins,
which was the time given by yours truly, but tomorrow's 'Sun' has been decreed the
official version so I await the result). Back to the game and still we keep attacking and
still the goal won't come.
Eighty sixth minute and they get their chance.
Mr Heilbron gives an indirect free-kick for obstruction on the edge of the box as a County
forward turns and runs into a Clarets defender and collapses in a heap on the floor. You
can see the panic setting in as Crichton calls for defenders on each post. Seeing this a
County forward stands directly in front of Crichton. I don't see the sense in the Burnley
tactic as they can't shoot directly, so the best defence is to charge the ball down. This
we do, but when the ball breaks to a County player he smashes a shot which Crichton gets
down to and blocks really well, but in the ensuing melee as the ball pinballs around
inside the area it drops to Stallard only two feet from the line and he stabs it in. Cue
ecstasy from County players and fans as they look like getting a point from a game in
which they should have been buried.
As the County fans were singing 'You're not
singing any more' a few Burnley fans were grizzling and shouting 'You're useless, Burnley'
and other such comments, which was extremely harsh given how well they had played. Then
when Paul Smith, who had played well, hit a poor cross and a dreadful free-kick it was
open season. Thing is that it is not much point shouting 'get off' when we have already
used three subs so although I was frustrated and disappointed I couldn't get annoyed at
any of the players for their performances. I just hope that a number of this minority had
already left when we made one last attack deep into injury time; Wright pulled left and
then darted back down the middle and was played in, and as he struck it 13,000 people (I
think they brought the 22) knew it was going in. If Wrighty keeps celebrating his goals
like that he'll be fully fit in no time as he covered nearly every blade of grass!
Particularly good for Wrighty as the County fans had spent most of the time he had been on
the pitch taunting him with shouts of 'Arsenal reject'. Barely enough time to kick off and
it was all over. Joy, despair and pure relief all in the space of a few minutes. Had to go
and have a few drinks to calm down.
Woody's 999th Burnley game and it could have
been so frustrating, but all's well that ends well as they say and so onto Woody's 1000th
game at Oxford next week, when we'll have to make do without Glen Little but if we can
play this well, especially the midfield, we are half way there.
Team:
Crichton, Smith, Cox, Cook (Jepson 76), Davis, Johnrose, Little, Mellon, Thomas,
Payton (Wright 76), Branch (Lee 66). Subs not used: Mullin and West.
Links -
the away game and this match last season
