Burnley Soar and make Eagles Sore!

In a very entertaining game at Turf Moor on Saturday, Burnley overcame the odds against high-flying third-placed Crystal Palace to win 1-0 thanks to an 81st minute goal by Junior Stanislas. At times, especially in the second half it was a nervy game for Clarets fans and against the run of play the goal came as welcome relief following some sustained pressure from the Eagles. We held our own in defence though and played some attractive football up front to secure all three points and climb the table to 10th spot. The win on Saturday against Ian Holloway`s men was particularly pleasing since Brain Stock was sitting out a one-match suspension and none of our walking wounded made the the eighteen. Leading goal-scorer Charlie Austin is still struggling with his hamstring problem whilst Martin Paterson, Chris McCann and Ben Mee also all remained on the injured list. In contract it looks like Palace may have been trying a bit of kidology suggesting that both high-profile winger, Wilfried Zaha and striker, Glenn Murray were doubts ahead of the game! Both of them started but Burnley contained them for most of the game with an impressive defensive display all round. Burnley now have 39 points from 27 games. Had Watford lost and not won away 2-1 to automatic promotion chasing Middlesbrough, we would have been just one point behind them and Millwall who we play next in the New Den next Saturday would have leapfrogged the Hornets into that coveted sixth spot on 41 points. It just shows how tight this league can be though and how important it is to go a run or at least string a few back-to-back wins together. It will certainly be an intriguing game at Millwall next Saturday with Burnley now just two points behind the 7th placed club and breathing down the neck of the other play-offs hopefuls. However that is the Owls and Eagles we have now beaten in two back-to-back Championship games only spoilt by the FA Cup defeat away to Barnsley. We might as well make it three league wins in a row against the animal kingdom so bring on the Lions next Saturday and let`s keep the pressure up!

Team Sheet

Sean Dyche had a bit of a selection nightmare ahead of this game with Stock suspended and four players injured. In the end though, the team had a similar feel to the one that lost at Oakwell in the FA Cup with just two changes to the team that stated against Barnsley. Junior Stanislas made a return to the starting eleven for the first time since November replacing Keith Treacy who had to be content with a place on the bench and David Edgar came in for the injured Chris McCann.

Grant, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Lafferty, Edgar, Wallace, Marney, Stanislas, Ings, Vokes

Subs: Jensen, O’Neill, Long, Bartley, Richards,Treacy, MacDonald

Full Match Report

Surrey referee, Gavin Ward got the game underway on a bitterly cold, yet at times sunny day in Burnley. There was an early scare for the Clarets after the Eagles nearly scored on the break. A curler from Murray came close and then Grant had to deal with a Zaha shot after the winger cut-in. After that though Burnley settled down and began to take control. Burnley were virtually camped in the Palace half for the first 45 minutes but in all honesty they just couldn`t make the pressure pay off and they rarely tested the Palace keeper, Speroni who didn`t have to make one significant save. Not for the first time have we had such possession and failed to make it count and this game seemed to be going the same way. We are at times simply not clinical enough in front of goal as the first half in particular would prove. The approach work and passing was delightful to watch at times but both Vokes and Ings struggled to make it count up front. They both had early efforts which flew over the top. Ings had another chance after Stanislas weaved his way into the box. Instead of shooting though the former West Ham winger crossed the ball to Ings and his header flew wide of target. Trippier also got in the action firing a shot just wide after Vokes had failed to get a touch. Wallace found Marney on 30 minutes with a superb pass and he ran to the by-line before pulling the ball back for Ings. Sadly though the shot from Ings was weak and Speroni mopped up the danger. The Eagles defence was at sixes and sevens when confusion in their back four allowed Stanislas to pounce but he couldn`t make his shot count with just nine minutes to go to the break.

Would Burnley rue their missed chances as the referee brought the half to an end? Palace certainly came out with all guns blazing and Dean Moxey nearly broke the deadlock but thankfully curled his shot just wide of target. Palace winger, Yannick Bolasie also seemed to wake up from a deep sleep and began to put the Clarets defence under pressure. The Clarets though seemed to soak up the pressure and began to create some chances of their own. Lafferty put over a superb cross that Vokes could have dealt with better than he did and then over on the opposite flank a Trippier ball led to Marney, under pressure from the Eagles defence heading directly at Speroni on the hour mark. Palace then came back strongly and there was relief for Clarets fans when Moritz made a hash of his kick and then Edgar got in a block after giving away a soft free-kick which was taken by Zaha. The Clarets were looking a bit jaded now frustrated at their inability to convert pressure and possession into goals and the Eagles began to sense blood. It was clear that Burnley needed to bring on fresh legs and one player targeted for replacement was Stanislas who also appeared to be suffering from cramp that is before he pulled off a wonder strike to give the Clarets the lead on 81 minutes. The winger having picked up the ball in a central position from an Ings cross faced a barrage of defenders chasing out to thwart his attempt 20 yards from goal. Taking his time, he coolly lined up his shot and let rip. The ball curled into the top corner of the net to give Stanislas his third goal of the season and send Clarets fans wild with ecstasy! It was his last action, job done on came Treacy to replace him a minute after scoring in a double substitution that also Bartley come on to replace Wallace. Could the Clarets now hold on? Well it wasn`t helped when the fourth official announced five minutes of added time to set up a nervous finish. Burnley though nearly doubled their lead but once more were thwarted by Speroni who this time denied Vokes after he had latched onto a Trippier cross only to see his powerful shot on the turn saved by the keeper. Hearts were a flutter on the home contingent side when Jedinak lobbed the ball onto the crossbar following a corner with just seconds to go and it was a great relief when the final whistle went to give the Clarets all three points. A great victory and a very entertaining albeit at times a very nervy game!

Match Stats

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Lafferty, Edgar, Wallace (Bartley – 82), Marney, Stanislas (Treacy – 82), Ings, Vokes

Subs Not Used: Jensen, O’Neill, Long, Richards, MacDonald

Goal: Stanislas 81

Booked: Yellow Card for Treacy (90 mins)

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Moxey, Delaney, Ramage, Parr, Bolasie (Wilbraham – 90), Jedinak, O’Keefe (Nimely – 83), Moritz (Williams – 69), Zaha, Murray

Subs Not Used: Price, Parsons, Gabbidon, Easter

Booked:0

Possession: 42% Burnley, 58% Crystal Palace (Source: BBC Sport)

Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey)