Well a title change seems appropriate as we drop the tits-bit! Same idea though, little snippets of weekly Clarets news you may have missed…
Shane Duffy Returns to Everton
On-loan defender, Shane Duffy has returned to parent club, Everton in midweek after completing his 28 day loan spell. He managed to feature in just one game for the Clarets going straight into the starting eleven against Ipswich at Turf Moor earlier this month just days after signing on loan. Although we lost that game, not much blame could be laid at Duffy`s feet although he would not feature again for the Clarets.
Many clarets fans have been wondering why he was not given more opportunity since he came to the club in a blaze of glory with strong suggestions Burnley were looking at him longer-term for next season.
Eddie Howe went someway to answering those questions by saying recently:
‘I thought he did okay against Ipswich in his game but we just felt we would go with the experience of Michael and Andre and they have done well together since.
‘We’ve got Clarke, who came on tonight (Boro game) and did well, and we’ve also got David Edgar behind the scenes, so I think we’re quite well off for centre-halves.
“Part of the reason we took him was to look long term with Shane.
“We`ll wait and see how pre-season goes for him and what his options are and how Everton feel, but he`s done himself no harm and he goes back with our best wishes.
Dean Marney sidelined with Injury
Marney has been playing well recently so it was unfortunate he had to be substituted in last week`s Boro game after picking up an injury. The stand-in captain, it is now known is suffering from a recurrence of the medial ligament injury that kept him sidelined last month. Marney you may recall picked up the injury initially in the disappointing 2-2 home draw against Coventry last month. He was substituted in that game five minutes before half time and was unable to play against Bristol City at Ashton Gate four days later. The International Break gave Marney some breathing space and it looked like he had fully recovered after picking up the captain`s armband and playing well in recent games.
It is not clear how long he will be out of action but after missing the Derby game and 4-2 win at Pride Park on Saturday, he looks unlikely to feature against Pompey at home this Easter Monday. Chris McCann could well keep his place anyway after such a stunning performance and goal in his first match of the season on Saturday.
Eddie Howe talking about the Marney injury said:
‘Dean has a slight problem with his medial ligament again, the same one he did recently.
‘It was a tackle on Tuesday and he just felt it again, so we’re not sure how long he is going to be out for. We are going to miss him, but Chris McCann came in and did ever so well.”
Burnley Second-String Beat Accy But Title Still Touch-and-Go!
The reserve match against Accrington Stanley in midweek should have been an ‘away` game for the Clarets but was played at Turf Moor instead of the Crown Ground after being changed at the eleventh hour. Still classed of course as an away game despite the venue change, Burnley played in their away strip of white shirts and sky blue shorts and ultimately came out 2-0 winners to win three vital points and put pressure on joint title-chasers, Preston North End.
A brace of goals from Dominic Knowles in the second half secured all three points. It was a pretty emphatic victory in the end and more goals could have been scored had it not been for in-form Reds keeper, Ian Dunbavin.
The teams played out a goalless first half and Burnley were unlucky to lose midfielder, Joe McKee after just sixteen minutes. He limped off injured to be replaced by Steve Hewitt.
Hewitt was soon in the thick of things being brought down on the edge of the box. Michael King though could only curve his free-kick wide of target. Accy came close when Ray Putterill attempted a fierce drive that was just off-target but it remained goalless at half-time.
In the 54th minute Burnley broke the deadlock to go 1-0 up after Knowles confidently ran into the box to score. Josh Cook in goal came to the Clarets rescue saving well from Stanley substitute Antony Field before Knowles wrapped things up with his second goal of the afternoon in the 86th minute. It was a nice build-up too with at least six players involved before Wes Fletcher cleverly set up Knowles.
Chris McCann was also in action being substituted after 60 minutes play with many Clarets fans believing he was being held in reserve for the first time clash against Derby County at Pride Park this weekend. They were right in the end and what a return to the first team it would prove to be with the Irish midfielder playing a blinder and scoring a goal in the stunning 4-2 victory..
It is now a chase with Preston North End to become league champions. The Clarets entertain the current totesport.com league leaders in their final game of the season at Turf Moor this Wednesday. For Burnley to be crowned champions they simply have to beat Preston and hope their close neighbours Stanley then do them a favour in their last game against North End.
Youths beat Morecambe
The youth team secured a 1-0 win against Morecambe on Saturday morning at Gawthorpe to keep the pressure on league leaders, Rochdale. Ideally though they would have liked more goals but the under 18 side has been depleted recently with both leading goal-scorers, Joe McKee and Joe Jackson out injured. Jackson`s season is already over after breaking a bone in his foot.
They were also without captain, David Lynch
Our goal came from substitute, Tommy Taylor who latched on to a Ross Wilson cross to volley home and put the Clarets ahead with 18 minutes to go. Another of our substitutes, young 15 year old Lewis Nuttall came close to adding a second late on in the game but could only put his effort wide. Despite dominating the game, the Clarets in the end had to settle for just a one-goal victory.
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