The Clarets convincingly beat Bury 3-0 at Gigg Lane last night in their second pre-season friendly of the summer maintaining their 100% record after winning 4-2 at Altrincham on Saturday. This once again was virtually a game of two halves in terms of the team selection with virtually all the squad getting a run out at some point during the game. Although we have still not bought any new players this summer, Clarets fans at least got the chance to see Charlie Austin making his return for the first time since dislocating his shoulder back in February and indeed he also scored the first goal last night with just seven minutes on the clock.after his fierce shot took a slight deflection to beat Shakers keeper Cameron Belford from 18 yards. Martin Paterson (minor knock), Tyrone Mears (minor knock) and Brian Jensen were absent from the team selection last night and in the first half-we lined up as follows:
Grant, Long, Edgar, Bikey, Fox, Bartley, McCann, MacDonald, Elliott, Rodriguez, Austin
The Clarets were also sporting their new away kit last night and they looked fetching in all yellow with a claret trim. Clarets fans still wondering who might be captain next season may have got a club with Chris McCann leading out the team. Michael Duff took over the armband in the second half.
Burnley took command against the newly promoted League 1 side after Austin`s opening goal and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead in the 37th minute. Alex MacDonald thumped home an angled shot to score his second goal in two games. 2-0 then at half-time
There were a number of changes for the start of the second half and by the end of the game Clarets fans had seen a number of the development squad players and young guns in action and also had a glimpse of our new trialist goalkeeper, Jon Stewart strutting his stuff after he replaced Grant for the last 12 minutes of the game. Three players though got an extended run out, MacDonald, Edgar and Elliott which may be a clue to Howe`s thinking for his first team selection of the new season.
In summary here are the changes we made:
Lee Grant (Jon Stewart 78); Kevin Long (Leon Cort 46), Andre Bikey (Michael Duff 46), David Edgar (Alex-Ray Harvey 71), Danny Fox (Brian Easton 46); Wade Elliott (Mehdi Lazaar 61, Dominic Knowles 78), Marvin Bartley (Dean Marney 46), Chris McCann (Chris Eagles 46); Alex MacDonald (Wes Fletcher 61), Charlie Austin (Chris Iwelumo 46), Jay Rodriguez (Ross Wallace 46)
The Clarets dominance continued in the second half and seven minutes from the restart the Clarets had the chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot after Marney had been felled in the box by Efte Sodje. Eagles took the penalty but Belford saved it no doubt causing some Clarets fans to question whether we should have let Grezza go!!
Burnley did finally make it 3-0 though with seven minutes to go from a Ross Wallace cross. There was Iwelumo to head home. That`s Big Chris`s second goal in two games and one just wonders if he is going to be the surprise package upfront this season after a disappointing 2010-11.
So 3-0 Clarets final score with Burnley now due to embark on their South West England tour next week with friendlies games against League 2 side, .Bristol Rovers and Torquay.
More Stats
Bury: Cameron Belford (Richie Branagan 77); Phil Picken (Zach Rothwell 77), Ben Futcher (Mark Hughes 46), Efe Sodje (Andrai Jones 72), Joe Skarz (Liam Bothwell 84); Andy Haworth, Damien Mozika (Max Harrop 54), Steven Schumacher (Dalton McCloughlin 84), David Worrall (Luke McCarthy 77); Lenell John-Lewis (Danny Hudson 72), Ryan Lowe (Jordan Melia 84).
Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne&Wear).
Attendance: 2,174.
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Is Chris the right man to take our penalties? I make this 3 he has now missed – How many has he taken – 6/7? If Chris isnt the man – Who would step up? I think Andre fancies himself didnt he? 🙂
I wondered where Paterson was, totally forgot about Mears and is it just me starting to worry about the goalkeeping situation?
Official site has been saying for a while that Pato and Mears had knocks. Can’t recall anything about Brian. Personally I am not worrying about the keepers, in that Eddie said Stewart was being considered as the third keeper. Meanwhile, in response to QPR signing Bothroyd, isn’t it great seeing us have such a settled and talented squad, with young’uns coming through, while Bothroyd’s former team Cardiff are way off the pace in terms of rebuilding shattered dreams. Ditto Bham. And then there’s the culture clash in East London as Big Sam hammers his philosophy into the club that’s poroduced so many entertaining players over the decades. QPR manager Neil Warnock commented on his new lad: “We have had to have a lot of patience with this but, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.” And while we’re waiting isn’t it fun reading about Clarets zipping around in pre-season with a will and a hunger and even some flair. Competition in almost every position, even for the capn’s armband. Goals galore, and now a shutout… even with Cort playing! 40% have now voted in the poll on this site that we’re going up, while the mid-table mediocrities have slumped to 48%!!! 🙂
For some reason, I always associate Bury with good things, probably ‘cos of Stan the man who started our resurrection , and so it continues albeit a friendly. Alex McDonald is sounding promising and as tmp says/asks , has Big Chris found some forrm at last? Steady as she goes.
Brian Jensen was feeling under the weather before the match to let you know Couch. And its good to see that Eddie is resting players even with the smallest of knocks, to make sure he has a fully fit squad in time for Watford. Another promising display from the lads, and I also think that with Edgar and Bikey in the centre of defence and McCann and Bartley in the centre of midfield we look at our strongest. And the fact that Eddie gave Edgar the full 90 mins shows that he is seriously considering him to start alongside Bikey for the new season. Great performance, great result, looking good.
Im not too sure about Chris Eagles taking penalties either. He obviously wants to take them, and he is good at them, and he has even to some extent been unlucky, but a great penalty taker makes his own luck like Grezza did. Eagles is no doubt our flair player, he is very versatile and his change of pace and rhythm is at times excellent so he feels it is an obligation that he should take them. I dont have a problem with him taking them as long as he scores them when it counts but Im just wondering if someone else could be more reliable. Another thing about Chris, in my opinion he is our best player, and Im not 100% sure but I believe his contract ends at the end of the upcoming season so its very important that we renew it. Everton and Rangers were considering bids in the region of £4 million for him not long ago so it would be a disaster to lose him on a free. Thankfully though he seems happy at Burnley, but when a player that good isnt getting Premiership football, should we not get promoted, it would be understandable if he left. So lets just be safe and get promoted !
Is he good at them though Adam. From memory, he has missed three, when he has only taken six. Grezza was probably a 18.5/19 out of 20 man, which is awesome. Our new man needs to be looking to be an 8/10 man. At the moment – Chris isnt. Am not saying I want to take the responsibility off him, I like that he wants to take them – I just wonder if we have other options?
Austin used to take them for Swindon.
I remember Jay Rodriguez when he was lad and hadn’t made his Burnley debut whipping the ball off Blake in a friendly to take a spot kick and score. Don’t think he has taken one since though but he had the right attitude and determination that day. Will be interesting to see who is the second option behind Eagles
He was also very keen at the Globe last season TMP but Thommo out ranked him. It is an interesting one.
Nixon reporting Patto offer coming in from our ex boss at Pompy increased to circa £2.5M ……. as we know Mr Nixon is never far from the mark, but if Stephen Fletcher was worth £7M what is the real worth of Patto? will the club be tested if we get to this level and above I’m not a massive patto fan but he’s got to be worth more than this hasn’t he ?
He is worth more than that. When fully fit he has the potential to score 20 goals a season at Championship level. He is a natural goalscorer and I think Pato and Austin up front could be a great combination in terms of reliability etc. And to have Jay Rodriguez aswell is fantastic as we are in really good shape for the new season and I personally dont want it to be interupted by other managers trying to take our best players. To be honest though, I cant see the deal happening.