No Hoot for Clarets against Owls!

The Clarets search for their first win of the season continues after a disappointing 1-0 exit to Championship side, Sheffield Wednesday in the second round of the Capital One Cup at Turf Moor last night. The two opening Premier League defeats against Chelsea at home and Swansea away were not too disheartening in terms of performance but this loss and early exit from a cup competition perhaps was more of a concern. You could argue we might have put out an unsettled side with Sean Dyche making seven changes to the starting eleven but excuses should not really be made for let`s face it a pretty average performance against lower league opposition. Having said that anyway, former Clarets first-team coach and caretaker manager Stuart Gray also opted for several changes to his team despite being undefeated in the Championship so far this season.

Burnley had their moments and it wasn`t all bad news but a late penalty scored by Owls striker, Nuhiu in the 78th minute was enough to send Sheffield Wednesday through to the next round on a ground which has proved fruitful for them over recent seasons.

The result left Sean Dyche scratching his head and it certainly sent a few shivers through the 4000 or so Burnley fans that could be bothered to turn up for this clash. It had been hoped that a win would give the club confidence ahead of the Manchester United clash at Turf Moor this Saturday but the pressure could now be on with the club still looking for its first win of the season after three defeats so far. The only saving grace was that our opposition on Saturday suffered even a more humiliating defeat going down an incredible 4-0 away to League One MK Dons. That result also left the Red Devils looking for their first win of the season with two defeats and one draw from their opening three games. Incredibly if we manage to repeat our 2009 Premier League win over United this Saturday we will go above them and really put Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal under pressure.

Let`s get back to the Owl game though!

Dyche said after the match:

“It was a nearly performance. There was a lot of good play and a lot of possession, with some good forward thinking play.

“We just didn`t quite have that edge to it that we have when we are free-flowing.

“We made changes because we have to make sure players are fully fit and we wanted to use this game for that.

“But I make it quite clear I desire winning, so I am not happy with the result. I`m just not madly concerned with the performance because there were a lot of good things.

“I`ve seen the stats and we controlled the game. We dealt with their 4-5-1 and all the long ammo that they throw at it. It was just one of those marginal games and a nearly night for us.

“I`d also say I don`t know how we haven`t had a penalty tonight. It`s impossible to not mention it because there were four incidents. I`ve seen all four again and three of them are penalties.”

Mmmm, guess all we can do is rapidly forget this match, move on and concentrate on beating United this Saturday.

Team Sheet

Matt Gilks in goal and Stephen Ward in defence were both given their debuts in a starting eleven that included seven changes in total from the opening two top flight games. Both Sordell and Barnes were given their chance to start up front with Dyche naming a strong bench including Ings and Jutkiewicz, our recognised strike pairing so far this season. Wallace was preferred ahead of Taylor and Dean Marney did not feature at all in the eighteen with reports he had picked up a slight knock. Kevin Long was also in the starting eleven in place of veteran defender, Michael Duff. Michael Kightly was also named as one of the wingers with Arfield playing a more central midfield role.

In summary we lined-up as follows:

Gilks, Trippier, Long, Shackell, Ward, Wallace, Jones, Arfield, Kightly, Barnes, Sordell.

Subs: Heaton, Ings, Jutkiewicz, Duff, Reid, Mee, Taylor.

Full Match Report

The Clarets started the brighter of the two teams creating their first real opportunity after just under three minutes of play. A Wallace cross into the box fell to Kightly but he looked surprised at how much space he had and fluffed his chance unable to provide the finish at the far post. The Owls then enjoyed a spell of possession earning a few corners and putting the Clarets under some pressure. Both Kamil Zayatte and then Gary Madine had efforts off target during this spell. It was not a spectacular game this though and it soon became a slow, plodding affair with little action at either end. A dangerous looking ball from Liam Palmer into the box in the 18th minute tested Kevin Long and he breathed a sigh of relief when he managed to divert the ball onto the top of the crossbar. In a short spell of Burnley pressure, Wallace struck a free-kick over the crossbar before Barnes then got on the end of in-swinging cross from the Scottish winger only to head wide of the post. Gilks at the other end then comfortably saved a deflected shot from Jérémy Hélan but the Clarets were finding it difficult to respond and step up a gear and the half remained goalless

At the start of the second half, Burnley once again showed promise but couldn`t deliver a killer blow. Kirkland was equal to an attempt from Barnes on the edge of the box following some nice interplay with Kightly. Sordell then neatly turned inside the penalty area to thump a shot just over the crossbar. The Owls keeper then managed to easily gather a deflected shot from distance from the former Watford and Bolton striker. Wednesday were always in this game though and it needed Gilks to save a Madine header which he did with some ease. On the hour mark, Dyche was forced into making his first change. Matt Taylor came on to replace Jones who was later reported to have picked up a knock. It was Wednesday though who had the next chance to break the deadlock. Maguire managed to get into a good position inside the box but thankfully his shot was thumped into the side-netting. Barnes came close for Burnley in the 68th minute after latching onto a superb cross from Ward but he headed the ball off-target at the far post and the stalemate remained. With the match now entering the final quarter and the score still 0-0 it was clear that the hosts` frustrations were now becoming quite evident not to mention the fans. Long tried his best after picking up the ball on the edge of the six-yard box following a knockdown from Barnes but he was unable to get the ball on target with his left-footed volleyed attempt and the Owls could now sense it might just be their day. That proved to be the case just a few minutes later after the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute. Shackell had no real option but to bring down Hélan just inside the penalty area after being beaten for pace and substitute striker Nuhiu made no mistake calmly converting the resulting spot kick. Burnley had been struggling to make an impression to be honest and there was just one more throw of the dice for Dyche who decided to bring on his big gun strikers with just eight minutes remaining. Could Danny Ings and Lukas Jutkiewicz get us back on level terms? In a word no and the game fizzled out handing victory to the Owls who now progress to the third-round.

Match Stats

Burnley: Gilks, Trippier, Long, Shackell, Ward, Wallace, Arfield, Jones (Taylor 60), Kightly (Ings 82), Sordell (Jutkiewicz 82), Barnes

Subs not used: Heaton, Duff, Mee, Reid

Booked: 0

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Palmer, Lees, Zayatte, Mattock, Semedo, Maguire (Nuhiu 73), Coke, Hélan, Maghoma (May 62), Madine

Subs not used: Westwood, Loovens, Floro, McCabe, Corry

Goal: Nuhiu 78 (pen)

Booked: Yellow cards for Maguire (42 mins) and Coke (70 mins)

Possession: 51% Burnley, 49% Sheffield Wednesday (Source: BBC Sport)

Referee: Geoff. Eltringham (South Durham)