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Elland Back as Relegation Fears Return

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It was a bad, bad night for the Clarets after going down 1-0 to Leeds United. It was a result that plunged the Clarets into a relegation dogfight with most of the other results going the wrong way. The defeat sees the Clarets drop to 17thspot but despite having 54 points that is now only three ahead of the third from bottom club, Huddersfield with three games of the season remaining. Our only saviour could be our goal difference in the end. A minus one goal difference compares to minus 25 for Huddersfield and most of the other clubs who could get relegated have inferior negative goal differences to Burnley so that could be worth an extra crucial point. It was a night that also saw Bristol City relegated so now there are just places for the drop to decide. Cardiff City, who we play next at Turf Moor on Saturday, were also confirmed as one the automatic promotion sides which could be a good thing. The current Championship leaders might now be more relaxed although they could still come out fighting determined to be confirmed Champions. It looks a virtually certainty anyway with second place Hull already seven points adrift. How it has come to this for the Clarets god only knows but it looks like it will be a nervy end to the season! Two games remain after Saturday and the match against fellow relegation-threatened Wolves at Molineux the following Saturday could be a right bum-squeaker. Our only advantage if it goes to the wire could be our last match which is at home against Ipswich, another club still not out of the woods! Remarkably just seven points separate the second from bottom club, Barnsley and Charlton in 9th spot so to say things are tight is an understatement. There was also more grim news for Clarets fans last night ahead of the game after learning that Charlie Austin would now most likely miss the rest of the season. He went down with appendicitis on Monday and had an operation on Tuesday morning to remove his appendix. He is doing well by all accounts and there are no complications but it left Clarets fans wondering if they had seen the last of Charlie in a Burnley shirt with the summer transfer window nearly upon us and Premier League clubs sniffing around for his services. It all that was not bad enough, Blackburn Rovers also beat Huddersfield 1-0 at Ewood Park to move to within one point of the Clarets with a game in hand.

In the match last night Burnley rarely looked like making any impression against a lively Leeds side and in the end a goal from another Austin, sadly not ours was enough to seal all three points for the Yorkshire lot. Rodolph Austin scored for Leeds in the 62nd minute and although we had a few chances to equalise it never really looked like we would salvage anything from the wreckage of a miserable night. New Leeds manager, Brian McDermott seems to have the knack against the Clarets. He has won the last six games, the first five of course with his previous club, Reading. What a torrid season this is now proving to be and who would have thought we would be in this predicament after that remarkable day at Wembley back in May 2009. Now we really have to dig deep and come out fighting starting with at least a point against promoted Cardiff on Saturday.

Team Sheet

Dyche elected to opt for Paterson in light of the Austin situation and he partnered Vokes up front with Danny Ings having to be content with a place on the bench. Pato`s pace was probably thought to be more crucial in this clash. One further change to the starting eleven against Blackpool saw Kacaniklic replace Stanislas who returned to the bench. We lined up therefore as follows:

Grant, Trippier, Long, Shackell, Mee, Wallace, Marney, McCann, Kacaniklic, Paterson, Vokes

Subs: Jensen, Lafferty, Bartley, Edgar, Stock, Stanislas, Ings

Full Match Report

Burnley looked quite bright in the opening stages and Kacaniklic, returning to the side after a virus infection unleashed an early 18 yard shot only to see the ball deflected for a corner. The Clarets though were now on the front foot and McCann was given enough space to wend his way over the 18 yard line before unleashing a shot. His right-footed shot though curled over the angle and after that Leeds began to come into their own and gradually took control. Ross McCormack got to the left by-line before cutting in only to see Jason Shackell get in a timely clearance. Leeds now turned the screw and the pressure mounted on the Clarets following four successive corners in quick succession. Only the last one though jangled the Burnley fans nerves. The ball bobbled across the six yard box but thankfully no Leeds player was near enough to take advantage and the danger passed. The home side were now enjoying most of the possession although Burnley were defending well. The visitors though just couldn`t seem to get Vokes and Paterson into action and they began to look more-and-more isolated up front with Leeds beginning to dominate the midfield. A long distance shot by McCormack just past the halfway mark of the first half flew thankfully wide but as the break approached Burnley suddenly went up a gear and created two of the best chances of the game. Wallace was allowed to pick his spot from 25 yards out and his daisy-cutter flew just wide of Paddy Kenny`s left hand post. Paterson was then the quickest to react to Marney`s pass after the former Hull midfielder had toe-poked the ball from the right but his driven shot flew into the side netting. Leeds had sensed that Ben Mee might be the weakest link in the Burnley defence and they had been concentrating on that flank throughout the game giving Mee a busy time. In a surprise just before half-time, Dyche replaced Mee bringing on Lafferty in the 45th minute. Mee didn`t look injured so it remains to be seen why that decision was made but it is yet another worry for Burnley fans. Goalless at half-time neither manager made any changes for the start of the second half.

If Mee was thought to be a weak link then Lafferty simply took up that mantle as Leeds continued to threaten down that flank. Leeds nearly scored within sixteen seconds of the restart with the Burnley defence caught out straight from the kick-off. El-Hadji Diouf crossed from the right to find Luke Varney completely unmarked in the six-yard box. Thankfully though he just couldn`t get enough purchase on the ball but it was an early let-off for the Clarets. Five minutes later, Lee Grant, who had been pretty quiet despite the Leeds pressure, then earned his salt after tipping over a Varney header in some style following a deep cross.

Dyche decided to bring on Stanislas for Paterson in the 54th minute but is was Leeds who broke the deadlock eight minutes later. El-Hadji Diouf`s audacious skill in controlling the ball on the left flank led to the goal and his accurately flighted cross gave Rudolph Austin the chance to slot past Grant from 10 yards out which he achieved with some ease. Burnley were now desperate to get back in the game and try and salvage at least a point. Dyche now had to change things around so, on came Ings to replace Wallace in 66th minute. That may not have been a wise choice considering Wallace had been one of our more creative players on the pitch but it led to a change in formation and for a time Burnley played with more urgency and effectiveness. Ings and Stanislas were now getting further forward and with 14 minutes to go McCann came close to an equaliser. His 18 yard effort though curled just wide. Kacaniklic then nearly set up Ings but his volley from 12 yards out flew wide. Leeds though were always a threat and they came close to doubling their lead following a McCormack free-kick which was just wide of target. Although Burnley pressed forward in the closing stages that elusive equaliser nearly really looked likely and no clear chances were created.

Match Stats

Leeds United: Kenny, Byram, Lees, Pearce, Warnock, Tonge, Austin, Green, Diouf, McCormack (Somma-84), Varney

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Drury, White, Habibou, Poleon, Hall.

Goals: Austin (62)

Booked: Yellow Cards for Byram (9) and Varney (85)

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Shackell, Long, Mee (Lafferty-45), Kacaniklic, Marney, McCann, Wallace (Ings-65), Vokes, Paterson (Stanislas-53)

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Edgar, Bartley, Stock

Booked: Yellow Cards for Mee (13), Paterson (40), Marney (82) and Shackell (90+3)

Possession: 54% Leeds United, 46% Burnley (Source: BBC Sport)

Ref:Fred Graham (Essex)

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11 comments

  • turfmanphil says:

    How the hell has it got to this? 3 points off the drop zone! The club should hang their head in shame after the highs of Wembley May 2009! The club is drifting directionless and aimless under this new co-chairman regime and they are split over Flood! Something has to change. The fans are apathetic, bored and fed up of dire football!! Somebody get a fat bloody grip before its too late

  • boltonclaret says:

    Now is not the time for finding blame-plenty of time after May 4th for that. Lets now all get behind the lads and roar them on to victory against Cardiff

  • Grimsby Claret says:

    S.O.S MAY DAY, MAY DAY, Burnley fc are sinking with all hands. Who will rescue us from the rocks of league 1. is there a hero in our team who will save us in the last 3 games. We can only hope.

  • Grimsby Claret says:

    I Agree Bolton we all need to get up to Turf moor on saturday and roar the clarets on to victory. I really believe if we cheer every move tackle shot we the fans can be the 12th man.

  • turfmanphil says:

    Yes and when we have done that please can we blame someone because this whole mess is farcical!! Even if we survive the drop, the situation at the club is very worrying. We seem to be rudderless, money is running out and there is no ambition. Apathy rules this club..we almost need a crisis to get things changed

  • VinRogue says:

    You know things are bad when tmp and I agree on the vast majority of all things BFC……

  • Claretdale says:

    I also agree that whatever the outcome of this season – come the end of it some decisions need to be made. As it stands, I fear If we do stay up this season, we wont next.

  • VinRogue says:

    I said this on another thread, we have too many average staff. If average = 5/10 then on a good day they perform to a 7/10 on a bad day they get 3/10. This season I think only Austin and Grant deserve to be classed as above average players, it then follows on a good day they play to 9/10 on a bad day 5/10. We also have some who start off as below average..

    Where do you rate Treacy, Bartley, Beast, Stock, Lafferty, Long and then Pato, Vokes, Ings, Stan, Wallace, McCann.

    This is just about this seasons form not about that goal he scored in the play-offs etc.

  • Couch Potato says:

    Are we in such a differnt boat from most other Ch’ship clubs? This season, what a difference 5 points would have, or could yet make? Next season, the great majority of clubs will be cutting costs. The Board strategy of shifting to a leaner, hungrier model is perhaps not actually ‘rudderless’, and argubaly exactly the opposite. It’s just got us a bare handful less points than others who are doing the same thing. In competition, luck always, always, always plays a part. So, for now, having been gloomy and questioning for a while, I’m in the ‘make some noise in the stands’ camp, and am saving the post-mortems till there has actually been a death. And anyway, the ‘ambition’ camp on here has always said not to worry about risking administration because everyone recovers. And look at how many clubs go into L1, get their heads straightened out, and go roaring up the C’ship table with younger hungrier players when they come back. It ain’t over till it’s over. And then it ain’t over either.

  • turfmanphil says:

    Whatever! But we are in the ***** and Flood came out this week clearly confirming the board was split over his situation. There is clearly no direction at the club either probably because they are split and this dual-chair thing is bizarre! ?I didn?t get on with Clive Holt and Mike Garlick,? said Mr Flood, who in reference to the club statement added: ?I don?t quite understand their agenda.
    ?My love of the club is slightly blighted. That?s why, if I was to go back in, it would be subject to the board being different. I?m sure they (Garlick and Holt) would say the same of me ? that they wouldn?t want to work with me again. There?s clearly no love lost.

    ?I don?t want to work with them. I won?t work with them again, whatever happens.?

  • turfmanphil says:

    Everyone can surely see we have been in steady decline since the Premier League days. The managers have not been that great since Coyle left and we have never recovered really from the loss of Eagles, Elliott, Cork and Fox.

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