Wembley: Burnley 1-0 Sheffield United

I was there! Who wasn't? The best side won and survived 2 penalty decisions that a lot of Refs would have given, justice was done, the Blades were undone. I must admit to being very nervy on the day but Wade's goal settled that (until the last 10 mins when we should have been four nil up at least!). I thought it was worse when we played Stockport at the old Wembley, they looked better with 9 men and more likely to score than us as we held on to our lead to clinch promotion in '94 (I know it was '94, that's what it says on my T shirt). I watched Reading on the box and we always looked comfortable down there which is more than we have been in the past. I had my doubts after the Cardiff match but the Bristol City result renewed confidence. What next, Europe, the FA Cup, the League Cup (should have been ours this season)? Premiership Burnley eh. I envy all you season ticket holders but at least I'll see us on Match of the Day now.

Previously

Play offs: (H) v Reading 1-0, (A) v Reading 2-0

(A) v Southampton 2-2, (H) v Bristol City 4-0

24 April 2009

(A) v Birmingham 1-1, (H) v Wolves 1-0, (H) v Coventry 1-1, (A) v Norwich 1-1, (H) v Sheff Wed 2-4
(A) v Blackpool 1-0, (A) v Arsenal (FAC) 0-3 "Gooners revenge!", (H) v Crystal Palace 4-2
(H) v Notts Forest 5-0 !!, (A) v Ipswich T 1-1, (A) v Plymouth Argyle 2-1
(A) v Derby County 1-1, (H) v QPR 1-0, (A) v Cardiff 1-3, (H) v Sheff Utd. 1-0

15 games, 23 Burnley goals scored by 13 different players. Goals are coming from everywhere! A mixed bag of results tho', like a roller coaster ride. We needed the Sheffield United result after Preston and Swansea had reduced our 7 point lead to 1 on Saturday. We just need to win one more game to ensure a play off position. Southampton tomorrow who will be trying hard to get their 10 point penalty used this season as they are relegated whatever they do. It will be a hard game. Come on you Clarets!! 

5 February 2009

(H) v Arsenal (LC) 2-0 "Young Guns outgunned!"
(A) v Sheff Utd 3-2, (H) v Cardiff 2-2, (H) v Southampton 3-2, (A) v Bristol City 2-1
(Played 24, points 43, position 4th)
(H) v Barnsley 1-2, (A) v Doncaster 1-2, (A) v QPR (FAC) 0-0, (A) v Spurs (LC) 1-4 "Arghhhhhh!"
(H) v Swansea 0-2, (H) v QPR (FAC replay) 1-1 and 2-1 aet, (A) v Preston 1-2
(H) v Spurs (LC) 3-0 and 3-2 aet, 4-6 on aggregate "We wuz robbed occifer!"
(A) v West Brom (FAC) 2-2, (A) v Watford 0-3
(Played 29, points 43, position 9th)
(H) v Charlton 2-1, (H) v West Brom (FAC replay) 3-1 "4th prem scalp, 5 if you count Spurs at home!!"

What with Xmas and being in shock about the Spurs result my update was long overdue.
What can you say about December and January? 16 games in 2 months including 2 that went to extra time (and Man Utd compain if they play 6 in a month!). Two more Premiership sides knocked out of cup competitions and a third that should have been. I've never been so gutted in my life (as no doubt was every other Burnley fan). If they played the away goal rule at the end of normal time as they do in Europe we would deservedly be playing Man Utd at Wembley and have a guaranteed place in Europe next season. So many "what ifs". I watched it on t'internet in France and I have never seen such a brave and excellent performance over 90 minutes. Even in extra time we looked comfortable until those unforgettable last 2 minutes. All this was in stark contrast to our league form. While I was in the UK I went to Doncaster and saw a really inept performance until we were reduced to ten men (again!!). Given the opposition we had we should have been in the top 2 but a different Burnley has been playing in the League. Let's hope things get back on track (touch wood). can we do the double over Arsenal or will Cardiff pull off a shock result? Either way we got 100,000 pounds for beating the Baggies (Boingg Boingg) and it's 200,000 in the next round.

30 November 2008

(A) v Wolves 0-2
(A) v Chelsea (LC)  1-1 aet, 5-4 on penalties, "The Night Of The Beast"
(A) v QPR 2-1, (H) v Doncaster Rovers 0-0, (A) v Barnsley 2-3, (H) v Derby County 3-0

A point from Wolves and QPR away would have been good so 3 points is better and to beat Chelsea on their own turf in between was the icing on the cake. Ade took his chance so coolly and so well it made you wonder how he missed easier chances at the Turf. Congrats also to the Beast. Goalies must love penalty shoot-outs as they've nothing to lose, one or two good saves and they become heroes and rightly so.
Well, after those away results Doncaster Rovers at home should have been a banker (even with 10 men I think) and Barnsley away should at least have been a point (tho I suspect most Clarets supporters would have hoped for 6 from these 2 games). So what a disappointment, only 1 point. The good news was the return of Paterson back in goal scoring form which gave him a starting line up position against Derby where he found the net twice more. 4 goals in one and a bit games, not bad.
Arsenal next, can it be a London hat-trick in the cup?

2 November 2008

(H) v Watford 3-2, (A) v Reading 1-3, (H) v Birmingham 1-1, (A) v Coventry 3-1
(A) v Charlton 1-1, (H) v Reading 1-0, (H) v Norwich 2-0

Reading away aside, the roll continues, 14 points from 21. Perhaps we should have done better at Charlton and Birmingham were lucky to get a point but we beat Reading at home so it's swings and roundabouts. Congrats to Chris Eagles on his brace, he seems to have found his form. So has the team. Since Ipswich (the last league game I saw!) in league and cup we have played 15, won 9, drawn 5 and lost 1. That's marginally better than winning at home and drawing away which is championship form. Two toughies to come though, Wolves and QPR away (Chelsea away?).
We're not the only team to find our form. England top of Group 6, played 4 won 4 and scoring lots of goals (14). Rooney is doing the business but at the same time his volatile temperament keeps getting him into trouble. Granted he needs to be aggressive but he needs to channel it in the right direction. You either love him or hate him but he is a great player.

29 September 2008

(A) v Palace 0-0, (H) v Oldham (CC) 3-0, (H) v Plymouth 0-0, (A) v Forest 2-1
(H) v Blackpool 2-0, (A) v Swansea 1-1, (H) v Fulham (CC) 1-0, (H) v PNE 3-1

What's to say? The defence have clicked and we haven't lost  (touch wood) for 8 games, 5 victories including 1 Premiership scalp (bring on Chelsea). A dodgy start at Palace, not being able to beat 9 men but then things started to happen. I managed to see the Oldham game before returning to France and we were much better defensively, Carlisle having a good game again and Alexander commanding the midfield (cliche time). A dour game against Plymouth followed by 2 excellent wins. Robbed at Swansea or just careless? A draw before the game would have been acceptable but a 93rd minute equalizer!?? Outplaying Fulham and in the last 16 now and finally winning the second and more important (in our league) derby after going a goal down. That's the way to do it. A few tough games coming up will test our new found form.
ps. Almost forgot to mention the excellent England performance in the qualifiers (I have now).

19 August 2008

(H) v Ipswich 0-3

Well I made it to a match and it will certainly be a match remembered by all those who were there, but for all the wrong reasons! There must be some old Chinese proverb along the lines of:-

When warrior from sky joins your enemy kiss your ass goodbye!

The Red Devils may have waived their fee but we waved goodbye to another 3 points in another atrocious display. This is the first time I've been able to watch our acclaimed defence for a long time, Carlisle was fine apart from some poor passing but the rest? Own goals, the speed of garden snails, look good going backwards, more holes than a string vest, whatever. Owen Coyle was a good forward in his day but he needs to concentrate on his defence or bring in a defensive coach and some new players. With a solid back four our forwards might be able to concentrate on scoring goals. Also, long high balls to the shortest player in our side is a strange tactic, we should use the wings with players like Eagles and Elliott in our side. I've got tickets for Oldham which is now not looking like the certainty I thought it would.
 
13 August 2008

(A) v Sheff Wed. 1-4, (A) v Bury (CC) 2-0

Roll on Sheff Wed! Who said that? All those signings and we've still got a crap defence. The worst defeat in our division leaves us at the bottom so the only way is up! A bit of face saving at Bury as we progress in the Carling Cup and 2 more goals from Martin Paterson who's looking good.

14 July 2008

Almost there, roll on Sheff Wed. I tried to watch the first USA friendly on t'internet but typically it was down at the time. When it was working the next day I tried again but the site wouldn't let me, something about my URL not being allowed. Ah well, we got beat so no great loss. Pre-season friendlies always worry me, perhaps I expect too much though I would have expected us to beat a lower tier American side. Usual excuses - new team, not played together before, only just started training, jet lag (new) and very humid (also new).