1/4 Cardiff 1 Burnley 2,
in the 'unlucky' away shirts. Scorers: Davis (21), Payton (61) / Cox og (67), later
claimed by Kurt Nogan after first being given to Johnrose. Team: Crichton, Davis, Thomas,
Cox, Little, Mullin (Mellon 20), Johnrose, Cook, Smith, Branch (West 85), Payton (Lee 77).
Subs not used: Brass and Harrison. Att: 6,483. See our match report
for details. We remain seemingly bolted on to our 5th in the table position, but with
some interesting results elsewhere, only five points off second. Little is sent off for
violent conduct, kicking out in retaliation for a foul, and is now looking at a three
match ban (Gillingham home, Oxford away, Millwall home). Ternent comments, "There is
no part for retaliation in football. It could have cost us dearly. But it is important he
learns from it. " He goes on, "but he's still only young in footballing terms
and that's part and parcel of his learning curve." Little is suitably penitent,
saying, "Obviously, I regret what happened and the lads have told me I've got to
learn from that," while adding that in his view it wasn't serious and a red card was
harsh. Cooke misses the game with a calf strain, while the absence of Armstrong and Jepson
from the bench is attributed on the terrace to a row with Ternent. Mullin goes off with an
abductor strain. A second Cardiff 'goal' is disallowed right at the end, and Cardiff
manager Billy Ayres accordingly blames the referee for the defeat. One other point to note
is that Burnley supporters pay £12 to stand on an open terrace – and get drenched
– while behind the other goal £10 buys home fans a seat and a roof. Isn’t this
against the rules? Mansfield Youth 1 Burnley Youth 0. Elsewhere, Bristol Rovers may
be in deep water over a pitch invasion in which supporters attack Stoke keeper Gavin Ward.
Ward's time-wasting and other antics had apparently upset the fans. Those who saw our game
at Stoke will not be surprised.
3/4 In the light of Sam Ellis' continued absence
from Turf Moor, it's confirmed that he has had a back operation and is currently off. It's
rumoured that Nigel Worthington is currently working with us and will join the coaching
staff in the summer.
4/4 Huddersfield Reserves 2 Burnley Reserves 1.
Trialists John Boardman (central defender) and Steven Rose (right back) play. Both
teenagers, they have been told they will be released from Liverpool and Manu respectively
in the summer. It's interesting to note that both Armstrong and Jepson also feature. Team:
Mawson, Rose, Armstrong, Heywood, Boardman, Jepson, Scott, Kelly, Shandran, Bowden,
Devenney. Subs: Williamson, Leeson, Davies, Waine, Paxton. Armstrong picks up a dead leg.
Elsewhere Preston beat Wigan but Stoke win.
5/4 Cowan returns to training after his ankle
problem.
6/4 Ternent says we will keep hold of the two
trialists for longer. They will train and play a second reserve game. Armstrong will miss
at least three with his injury. Ternent plays down the Notts County game, describing it as
just "a chance to get three points." A ludicrous football 'style survey'
concludes that Burnley fans are the most stylish in the North West.
7/4 Barry Kilby, who always seems to give the local
press something to report on slow news days, says we could still go up automatically yet.
He reckons three wins from seven will get us in the play-offs, and six automatic.
8/4 Burnley 2 Notts County 1. Scorers:
Payton (5), Wright (90) / Stallard (86). Team: Crichton, Smith, Cox, Cook (Jepson 76),
Davis, Johnrose, Little, Mellon, Thomas, Payton (Wright 76), Branch (Lee 66). Subs not
used: Mullin and West. Att: 13,022. See our match report for
details. We stay, as usual, 5th. Ternent comments, "The record that comes on when
the players run out is 'Let Me Entertain You' and I think we entertained you on Saturday.
There will be a few bitten nails and the way they're going at it I could be in an early
grave." He adds, "When I first came to this club there were a lot of soft
centres knocking about. There aren't now. There's no way they're going to wear claret and
blue shirts. The lads who play for Burnley Football Club now have a pride in wearing the
shirt and they give their all. That was a promise I made to the fans, about a fitness
level and a commitment. And we have good players now." Automatic promotion is still
up for grabs, he reckons. Despite taking his total to 25 goals and becoming the outright
top scorer in the division, Payton says he should have had a hat-trick.
10/4 Andy Cooke is expected to have recovered from
his injury in time for our game at Oxford. The 1960 Championship side is to be celebrated
at a 40th anniversary dinner at Turf Moor on May 13th. chris waddle is promoted to
assistant caretaker manager at Sheffield Wednesday.
11/4 Tranmere Reserves 2 Burnley Reserves 0.
Team: Mawson, Rose, Devenney, Scott, Heywood, Boardman, Williamson, Bowden (Maylett),
Shandran, Kelly, Kevan. Subs not used: Davies, Waine, Leeson, Paxton. After five and a
half years, Nicky Spooner finally receives compensation for injuries inflicted on him
while a Bolton defender by John Gayle. Many will remember that infamous 'cheating John
McGinlay' match in 1994. It was Gayle's 'tackle' on Spooner, pretty much ending his
career, that sparked off that later incident. A six figure sum is settled out of court.
Clive Holt - it's been a long time - says it won't affect the club as the money will be
paid out be insurers. Wigan lose, leaving second place wide open.
12/4 The club announce they have so far sold
£200,000 worth of season tickets, with the child ticket being very popular. Record
receipts are on the cards.
13/4 Chris Brass is said to be off in the summer.
14/4 Harry Potts is voted 35th in a list of the
50th greatest football managers of all time, according to a poll in Total Football
magazine. There's some speculation that we might try to persuade Wright to stop on another
year. Players not in the squad for Oxford - including Armstrong, Cooke, Cowan, Harrison
and Little - are called into a weekend training session to build fitness for the run-in.
Ternent confirms that the two trialists will be staying at the club for the time being.
Paul Weller comes off the transfer list. He says, "I've been here nine seasons now
and I love the place. I just want everyone to know that I don't really want to
leave." Ternent describes him as, "a quality player," and, "a valuable
member of the squad."
15/4 Oxford 1 Burnley 2. Scorers: Davis
(85), Weller (90) / Murphy (13). Team: Crichton, Davis, Thomas, Cox, West (Weller 70),
Smith (Lee 46), Mellon, Cook (Wright 70), Johnrose, Branch, Payton. Subs not used: Jepson
and Mullin. Att: 7,549. See our match report for details.
Ternent describes automatic promotion - we go 2nd if we beat Gillingham on Tuesday - as
"possible" but "a tall order." For the moment we stay - of course -
5th. Burnley Youth 4 Bradford Youth 0. Andrew Waine gets a hat-trick, Brad Maylett
the other goal.
17/4 Season ticket holders and shareholders receive
letters from Barry Kilby inviting them to a "spectacular announcement" from
Andrew Watson at Turf Moor on May 3rd. What could it be? Ternent seems to suggest that
Wright will stay on another year. Davis and Mellon face calf and hamstring problems, but
these are reckoned insufficiently serious to keep them out of contention. Ternent appeals
for the fans to get behind the team for the forthcoming crucial games.
18/4 Burnley 0 Gillingham 3. Scorers: Gooden
(21), Ashby (50), Smith (70). Team: Crichton, West (Weller 53), Smith (Jepson 46), Cox,
Cook (Wright 53), Davis, Johnrose, Mellon, Thomas, Payton, Branch. Subs not used: Lee and
Mullin. Att: 17,026. See our match report for details. We could
have gone 2nd, but instead we stay… 5th. We finish with ten men when, having used
three subs, Lenny Johnrose goes off with concussion in the 67th minute. Ternent describes
it as "a bad night at the office," while Gillingham manager Peter Taylor admits,
"I would have settled for a draw coming here." Before the match, Ternent says
that contract talks will be held in the summer with the aim of keeping all of his current
first team squad together. While we have to wait and see what division we’re in
first, he says, "I want to add to the squad and strengthen the squad but it would be
easier if we were in the First Division and I had a few quid more. I'm happy with what
I've got and I want to build on that and the lads are aware of that." This would
presumably mean that out of contract players, such as Cook, Branch, Jepson and Cowan could
be offered new deals – as well as Mitchell Thomas and Ian Wright. Of this, Ternent
says, "If I can keep Ian I'll keep him, but that will be Ian's decision. He's
fantastic around the place and everything. And he's a good player."
19/4 Burnley Reserves 0 Stoke Reserves 3.
This is their last home game of the season. Team: Mawson, Leeson, Scott, Williamson,
Heywood, Kevan, Maylett, Pilkington (Waine), Shandran (O'Neill), Kelly (Barrett),
Devenney. Subs not used: Davies and Paxton. Johnrose could be out for a week, having been
hospitalised with concussion and double vision. Warren Joyce is shown the door at
Warren-Joyce's-Hull.
20/4 Aston Villa are said to have been watching
Glen Little. The Scottish League decide to take no further action against Ian Wright, not
even fining him for his comments in the Sun.
21/4 The final game against Scunthorpe could be
screened at Turf Moor, if there is something at stake. Scunthorpe have already given their
approval.
22/4 Burnley 4 Millwall 3. Scorers: Cox (6),
Cooke (28), Davis (43), Cook (52) / Harris (59, 70), Cahill (87). Team: Crichton, Thomas,
Davis, Cox, Branch, Mullin, Mellon, Jepson, Cook (Weller 81), Cooke (Wright 70), Payton
(Lee 63). Subs not used: Brass and West. Att: 14,890. See our match
report for details. Despite being 4-0 up, ultimately we just cling on for a win.
Momentously, we are no longer 5th! We're 4th. Millwall fans take the
defeat hard, some of them tearing up and throwing the seats in the Cricket Field Stand. Burnley
Youth 2 Preston Youth 1. This last youth game of the season leaves us 2nd
in our division.
23/4 Burnley are linked with Lee Ashcroft, a winger
cum striker of Grimsby. Ashcroft, 27, previously played for Preston and is said to want to
return to the area following a disagreement with manager Alan Buckley after which he was
transfer-listed. A £650,000 fee has been mentioned.
24/4 Brentford 3 Burnley 1. Scorers: Mullin
(61, 76), Wright (64) / Owusu (43), Marshall (90). Team: Crichton, Thomas, Davis, Cox,
Branch, Little (Jepson 83), Mellon, Johnrose, Mullin, Cooke, Payton (Wright 46). Subs not
used: Weller, Lee, Armstrong. Att: 6,595. See our match report for
details. With some good results elsewhere, this leaves us 3rd, with Wigan
second on goal difference, and three points above the rest of the chasing pack, although
Gillingham have a game in hand. Preston are champions. Paul Cook misses the game with a
tendonitis, while Ronnie Jepson's consignment to the subs bench is put down to flu. Ian
Cox picks up a hand injury which requires an X-ray.
25/4 Scunthorpe tickets sell out in one morning.
2,000 tickets are sold in about three hours. Ian Wright says he will not be changing his
mind about retiring at the end of the season, citing his television commitments.
26/4 Ian Cox will be out for the rest of the season
after fracturing and dislocating his wrist when it was hit by a ball at Brentford. He will
miss three months. Ternent comments, "Things have conspired against us but we have to
win and see if we can get up for Coxy." Pun intended? West Brom Reserves 0 Burnley
Reserves 0. They finish the season 9th. Gary Dempsey, a teenage striker and an Irish
under 18 international to be released from Everton at the end of the season, plays on
trial. Team: Mawson, Leeson, Cowan, Scott, Heywood, Kevan, Maylett (Barrett), Harrison,
Shandran, Dempsey (O'Neill), Devenney. Subs not used: Davies, Bowden and Paxton.
27/4 Apparently Ian Wright may consider playing
another season after all. This one's going to drag on.
28/4 Ian Wright is one of the first twelve players
inducted into the premier league hall of fame.
29/4 Burnley 2 Cambridge 0.
Scorer: Payton (13, 31). Team: Crichton, Thomas, Davis, West, Branch, Mellon, Cook (Jepson
60), Johnrose, Mullin, Cooke (Wright 56), Payton (Little 65). Subs not used: Brass and
Lee. Att: 15,084. See our match report for details. With Wigan
losing at home to Wrexham, we go 2nd, with one game to play. Gillingham,
however, have two games left, and if they win both will go up. We are definitely in the
play-offs at least. Ternent
says, "The play-offs gives us a second chance and it would be great for the fans and
everybody. But we would like to win the game next week and if we could get an automatic
promotion that would be lovely." Scunthorpe are relegated, and Burnley confirm our
match there will be televised at Turf Moor, with 7,000 tickets available at £5.
