Burnley were unlucky not to come away from London Road with at least a point after going down 2-1 to Peterborough on Saturday. The Clarets fell to an early sucker punch with Posh taking the lead after just 3 minutes when Emile Sinclair hit home from the edge of the area. Despite the early pressure, Burnley though survived the onslaught and showed quite a bit of resilience to try and recover from that early blow but Posh once again knocked them for six when Sinclair got his brace in the 38th minute. Credit once again to the Clarets though, they kept plugging away and were finally rewarded on the stroke of half-time thanks to a stunning 25 yard shot from Keith Treacy which soared into the back of the net to make the score 2-1 at the break.
Clarets fans were nervous ahead of this game after a shocking performance in our previous match at home to Middlesbrough a week ago but at least this time the exact same starting eleven showed more desire and passion to get something from this clash. At times we played some good football and enjoyed long spells of possession, especially in the second half but we simply could not make the pressure count and get that all important equaliser. It was probably also a sign of how close we came to getting something from this game when it was announced that Posh keeper, Paul Jones was deemed to be their Man of the Match!
Having said that, there are still many areas of concern and the lack of experience in the side is all too clear to see. Our error-prone defence once again looked shaky when Posh caught us out on the break and our midfield engine of McCann and Marney again at times were not firing on all four cylinders although our captain at least this time put in a much better shift. Getting the ball up to the front two especially in the first half seemed a tall order and when they did get the ball both Austin and Rodriguez struggled to make any impression. Both of them really have to find their goal-scoring touch again and soon or if not Zavon Hines will have to be given his chance up front, perhaps alongside his former West Ham teammate, Junior Stanislas or maybe even Alex MacDonald.
There was a moment in the second-half when it looked like we may have lost another defender to injury. Ben Mee went down unconscious in what looked like a serious injury with the stretcher coming on with back support facility. Thankfully in the end, the physio worked his magic and Mee carried on, but it brought home the fact of how stretched we now are in the back four with limited options to change things around. Amougou, had we not already used our third substitute could have come on from the bench but that would currently be our only option with Duff out injured. Another problem for the Clarets could be the injury to Brian Jensen. He limped off holding his groin in the 17th minute to be replaced by Lee Grant and now looks set to be sidelined for a spell giving our third-string goalkeeper, Jon Stewart the chance to perhaps enjoy a little bit of first team bench warming.
We can certainly expect some changes for the Carling Cup clash then against MK Dons at home on Tuesday night with Jensen likely to be out, maybe Mee rested after his ordeal and with Marney too also suffering from a stomach complaint. There is some time though for all of them to recover in time for our next Championship game which will be against high-flying Southampton at Turf Moor next Saturday. It is vitally important we get our first home league win of the season against the Saints with the club now just one place off the drop zone. We are currently in 21st spot with just five points from six games. Forest and Bristol City below us have the same number of points as Burnley but have both played a game more and have an inferior goal difference to the Clarets. Doncaster Rovers prop up the table with just one point from seven games. Anything less than a win, could further alienate the fans and ensure confidence within the team plummets even more. Somehow we have to stop the rot and quickly return to winning ways unless we want a relegation struggle on our hands for most of the season.
Full Match Report
All Clarets fans had been wondering ahead of the Posh game whether Howe would stick with the same starting eleven for the third game running. The dilemma for Eddie Howe must have been that the same starting eleven had played with such contrasting styles in their last two games. A thumping impressive 2-1 victory away to high-flying Derby County before the international break was followed by a shocking, terrible performance at home to Middlesbrough with virtually every player except possibly David Edgar simply not at the races!
In the end, Howe gave the same starting eleven (in fact the same sixteen) the chance to redeem themselves and we therefore lined up as follows:
Jensen, Trippier, Edgar, Mee, Easton, Wallace, McCann, Marney, Treacy, Rodriguez, Austin
Subs: Grant, Amougou, Bartley, Stanislas, Hines
South Yorkshire referee, Jock Waugh in charge of a game featuring the Clarets for the first time got the match underway on a generally sunny, but showery day in East Anglia.
Posh came storming out of the blocks before the Clarets had time to settle and found themselves 1-0 up after just 3 minutes. Bit disappointing really since this was the first time they had managed to score in the first half-hour of any game this season and in fact it was the first time they had even taken the lead. Lee Tomlin flighted the ball over a sleepy-looking Burnley defence for Emile Sinclair, making his full debut to angle the ball home past Jensen. Posh had their hackles up now with the game in danger of becoming another nightmare for the Clarets. They nearly doubled their lead after the Clarets failed once again to control the lively Sinclair. Sinclair latched onto a through-ball from George Boyd and got the better of David Edgar before unleashing a shot that had Jensen well-beaten. Thankfully though Ben Mee came charging back to clear the danger at full-stretch on the goal-line! Phew!
At this stage, it was all Peterborough with Clarets fans fearing the worst. In the 15th minute with Burnley it seemed permanently camped in their own half, Posh were awarded a corner and nearly scored form it when Ryan Tunnicliffe latched onto Boyd`s corner kick only to head wide.
Nothing seemed to be going right for the Clarets and we had to suffer another blow when Jensen limped off with a groin injury after taking the goal-kick. On came Lee Grant and he was soon breathing a sigh of relief after seeing a Boyd attempt fly into the side netting before he had even touched the ball.
Thankfully though we had survived the pressure without going further behind and now at long last we gradually got back into the game. Rodriguez finally seemed to wake up and suddenly we looked like scoring. Jay Rod first headed down a cross from Easton to set-up Austin but the keeper managed to block his attempt. Rodriguez then attempted a shot of his own after thumping a Wallace pass towards the keeper. Jones kept the ball out but it fell to McCann and he too was thwarted by the in-form stopper. It was Jones again who then came to Posh`s rescue from a Treacy corner. David Edgar got up to head what looked like a certain goal before Jones somehow got a touch to send the ball just over the bar.
Now Burnley were in the ascendancy and we nearly equalised again when Rodriguez put his shot just wide after latching onto a ball pulled back by McCann.
Posh looked to be on the back foot but they still had a killer blow to offer in the 38th minute when somehow they managed to double their lead in their first attack for ages. It was indeed a cruel goal for all Clarets fans to bear after such sustained pressure by Burnley. It was also gifted to them thanks to a blunder by David Edgar. Sinclair had been giving him a torrid time for most of the game and this time he had been caught in possession and could only look on despairingly as the 23 year old former Macclesfield striker did his magic in the box to eventually wrong-foot Grant to get his brace.
It looked like it was going to be one of those afternoons for the Clarets but all hopes were raised again when Treacy suddenly reduced the arrears with half-time approaching. It was a superb bit of individuality with the former Preston winger getting the ball onto his right foot to unleash a superb shot from 25 yards out. The ball sailed into the top corner of the net and once again it was suddenly game on!
It was 2-1 then to Posh at half-time with everything to play for in the second-half.
Howe made no changes for the re-start and for the first 15 minutes or so of the second half, it looked like we were going to struggle to get the equaliser. It was clear we needed to change things round a bit and bring on some fresh legs and the first of those changes came in the 61st minute with Stanislas coming on to replace the lacklustre, Ross Wallace.
We looked to have most of the possession now in the second half but somehow just couldn`t seem to test the keeper and that elusive equaliser failed to materialise. To be honest, Posh never really looked like increasing their lead either but they had their moments and panic stations kicked in again a few times on the break.
It looked like curtains for Burnley when Sinclair suddenly found himself clear of the Burnley defence with only Jensen to beat. Thankfully though, he botched his attempt, dragging the ball wide of target.
Sinclair was again denied a hat-trick with 20 minutes still to play when his shot was blocked right in front of goal. Bartley came on to replace Marney in the 72nd minute but still we could not make the possession count. We came close though when Austin ran forward with the ball after picking up a pass from Stanislas. He let rip with an angled drive only to see the ball tipped over the bar by the impressive keeper.
That was it really and even with five minutes of added time (following the attention to Mee`s injury) we just could not find a way through. A very disappointing result in the end in a game where a draw would have been a much fairer result based on our performance and possession.
Match Stats
Peterborough: Jones, Little, Bennett, Zakuani, Alcock, McCann, Tunnicliffe, Frecklington (Wootton 85), Tomlin (Rowe 59), Boyd (Taylor 77), Sinclair
Subs Not Used: Lewis, Kearns
Goals: Sinclair 3, 38
Booked: Yellow cards for Taylor and Wootten
Burnley: Jensen (Grant 17), Trippier, Edgar, Mee, Easton, Wallace (Stanislas 61), McCann, Marney (Bartley 72), Treacy, Rodriguez, Austin
Subs Not Used: Amougou, Hines
Goal: Treacy 45
Booked: Yellow card for Mee
Possession: 50% Peterborough, 50% Burnley (Souce: BBC Sports)
Ref: Jock Waugh (South Yorkshire)
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Surprisngly, I seem to have come away from this game more positively than some. Many seem to be saying we were not much better than we were against Middlesbrough. Can’t see that myself, thought there were a few good moments in this game and we looked more up for this even when 1-0/2-0 down! Posh were no great shakes though and that is a worry. Still lots to sort out! My feeling is given time this team will gel and sort it itself out! My worry is we don’t have that time and could find ourselves struggling to maintain our Championship status with confidence shaken! We have to spend in the January window, that is certain!
I came away feeling somewhat positive too tmp. Thought we unlucky not to at least get the equaliser. The potential is all there – I’m sure things will click before too much longer.
My MOM – Brian Easton. Cheers to him. But jeers to the thuggish-looking bloke 3 rows in front of me who spent the whole game screaming obscenities at Eddie Howe (we were close enough for him to hear). Some so-called fans defy belief!!!
Some people enjoy moaning and complaining at the first signs of adversity Brompton. Usually, like the bloke obviously sat near you, they are also the first to be seen dancing on the town hall steps when things have gone well. Often this is allied to telling all who can be bothered to listen how loyal they have been. My second game of the season yesterday and it was certainly better than my previous game at Crystal Palace. However, we are still a bit ponderous on the break and some dozy defending saw us concede two pretty cheap goals. Didn’t really feel we were ever looking likely to score in the second half and was amazed when Peterborough’s keeper was awarded man-of-the match plaudits.
My second game of the season too RT – I didnt think we were great. We did deserve at least a point from the game, but seemed to lack quality going forward most of the time in my opinion and did not seem to be fully operating as a unit. Dozy defending at times is also a fair assessment.
Brompton is that for real someone having a go at Eddie Howe? was he completely inebriated …… its unbelivable really Hardly Howes fault that the board sold of ALL the key players form the last two seasons in pre season, Hardly Eddies fault that he’s not been given the correct levels of budget to attract the right sort of player, not Edddie’s fault that we failed to bring in players in transfer windows because of the penny pinching attitude, not Eddies fault that every piece of experience we have had gone else where and we have failed to negotiate terms for other to come in, he cant make a silk purse from a load of inexperienced kids that haven’t played together before… he’s a football manager not a feckin magician what wrong with these clowns? FAO The detestating result against Middlesbrough may not be to painful if you consider they sit at the top of the Championship today !
I hate it when you get sat next to or close to someone like that, I am always supportive when at games, to players and managers. Its all about confidence for a player, And Eddie is doing his best as he see’s it but not totally convinced it was the board who got shut of players like Wade feel Eddie wants to build his own team and Wade and Clark etc were not part of it, But hey if you check my past posts I have said we need to give Eddie a couple of years to judge weather he is a good manager at this level. I have said before I don’t think any of us were expecting automatic promotion this season. But we don’t expect to be fighting a relegation battle either.
Good to hear some more positive vibes but Posh are hardly world beaters and at the start of the season we must have looked for at least a point from this one – new boys and all that. I see Hines sat this one out, did Stanislas make any impression when he came on?
Saints just thumped Brum 4-1 to go top of league. Both Fox & Cork played! Really is doing my head in all this, seems everybody has got themselves sorted except our lot who are bumbling along looking clueless
Following on from Hollins’ point that its not Howes fault you could ardue it wasn’t Laws fault he was dealt a poor hand by the same board?
I have to say that I am really worried in regards to the experience/ depth of talent we have. I have no issues with “building your own team” and youth policies otherwise why have an academy? However to get rid of the bulk of the experienced players and having a threadbare squad is really asking for disaster in such a competitive division as this.
Laws though was already a failed manager at Championship level let alone being unproven at Premier League level when we signed him. He then proved he wasn’t much better with Burnley in the Championship so rightly had to go! The Board clearly had to take some of the blame for recruiting Laws though in the first place. Howe is unproven at this level but has hardly been given much chance to prove himself after having the squad decimated for one reason or another and been given very little in terms of money and salary caps to attract the right quality of players we need. I was also at the Countdown to Question Time event held by the Trust when Carlisle made it clear that Laws was not good at motivating the team wheras Howe clearly was at that time! We have to judge him by what he can do with the limited resources at his disposal come Christmas. Even if we are struggling by then, the Board could redeem themselves by giving him the cash to bring in more players with experience! We should at least see what he can do in a full season. I am pretty convinced Howe would have done a better job than Laws could have done with the players he inherited.
Totally agree DD! The Board are gambling with our Championship survival and I don’t like it one bit
Talking of Championship survival now, is it really that dire TMP ?
Laws at least wanted to sign Jack Cork and wanted the Chairman to buy him early before his value and standing went up. After Coyle left with the kitchen sink even Mr Motivator would have struggled and once you are seen as another Megson you are doomed. Laws had more going for him than some credit.
We cannot keep blaming Laws, he brought in just as many good players as he did bad. Eddie inherited a good squad of players and did a good job instantly, almost taking us to the play-offs. He could have done an even better job had it not been for our unambitious board, selling some key players and not addressing some problems. Eddie is a good manager, and hopefully he can make his new signings gel into the team and we can get ourselves right up the table.
Kilby’s brief time as a premier league chairman obviously scared him sxxxxess. It’s about time we got some cosmopolitan, modern, forward thinking people in charge instead of these muppets who don’t give a monkey’s about the fans whom they regards a loyal mugs.
Complacency was the reason we almost went out of the league. History is repeating itself.
I can’t argue the fact that Laws brought in some good players but he also brought in some duffers wasting far more money than Howe has even been given so far (Cort,Iwelumo) All managers do that though, even Coyle when you think about Penny,Guerrero, Eckersley, van der Schaaf etc! Carlisle though was very explicit about Laws at the Trust evening. It was clear Laws was out-of-his-depth and had poor man-management skills even to the extent of not discussing team tactics with his captain/vice captain at the start of the Championship season. If you asked me so far based on the performances I have seen and the potential within the team, I would choose Howe over Laws everytime. [Edited by turfmanphil]
One thing that worries me about the Board,pmh is that they seem to keep changing their strategy on the hoof using Eddie Howe as their mouthpiece! Look at the contrasting statements that Howe has said since the start of the close season until now. We started the pre-season being told we just needed 2-3 players to boost the squad, we sold/released and were still told we only needed 2-3, we failed to get them in the transfer window, so then it was we need 2-3 players in the loan window, we failed again and then somehow it changed from wanting loan players aged under 30 to contemplating those over 30. We have moved from getting rid of experience to appreciating we actually need some, something the fans could have told them from day 1. Let’s face it though experience costs and the Board are simply not prepared to entertain the idea and would rather the fans suffer a team in transition with problems both in terms of quality and quantity
Everyone seems to know that we have needed 2-3 quality experienced players for some time. We have not got them because of the tight budget policy of the Board, for right or wrong. There seems little doubt that teams like the Posh would be dispatched with ease by such a strengthened team although the depth of strength would still be a problem. I only hope that the Board soon see the the error of their ways and realise the relatively little tweaking the team needs to really compete. Meanwhile we must trust in Eddie to keep up the spirit apparently missing against Middlesborough but rejuvinated against Peterborough.
Totally agree with those comments CC! We certainly have to totally get behind Eddie at this stage. it is not his fault his hands have been tied by a penny-pinching, short-sighted Board