2010 does not look like being a good year for Claret!
This is now becoming a nightmare season for Burnley with yet another home defeat against a fellow struggling side. The trouble is we are gifting the opposition too many goals which we simply cannot afford to do at this level and we are being punished big-time for that. On Saturday it was Tyrone Mears chance to compete for the ‘Cock-Up of the Year’ title. A horribly short headed back pass to the keeper was pounced on by Matt Jarvis who easily rounded Jensen to tap home into an empty net and put Wolves 1-0 up. When you are down, lady luck seems to desert you and there were certainly ample examples of that in this game but we can`t keep using that as an excuse. Individual performances have to improve and we need to gel again as a team. The nerves are kicking in and confidence and quality are both lacking at the moment and when you can`t beat a team that quite frankly were the worst to visit Turf Moor this season things begin to look ominous.
An average performance by the Clarets in the first half probably meant a few strong words from Laws at half-time in an effort to get them to buck up their ideas. They didn`t have much chance to try though and found themselves 2-0 down after just two minutes into the second half. This truly was bad luck in the sense it needed a deflection off Clark Carlisle`s bum for Adlene Guedioura’s angled shot to beat Jensen for an own goal. That truly was a killer blow and it also killed the home fans spirit stone dead!
Everybody looks for positive things to say in these desperate times and in truth we did show some fight to try and get back in this game. Although not popular with fans at the time, taking off Eagles and replacing him with Thompson improved the shape of the team and we looked stronger in attack. Laws had also at the same time brought on Blake for Bikey and that also seemed to lift spirits on the pitch with Blake making an impressive cameo appearance.
At long last with 17 minutes to go the Clarets fans had something to cheer about when we pulled a goal back. It was Thompson who headed Burnley back into contention after diverting Graham Alexander’s shot from the edge of the area past Marcus Hahnemann. It was all Burnley from now on but try as we could to get that equaliser it remained elusive as the bad luck element kicked in again.
Both David Nugent and Blake hit the woodwork and despite long spells of possession with attack after attack in the Wolves half the away side held on to get the crucial three points leaving the Clarets demoralised with relegation looking a strong possibility. We are now third from bottom three points adrift from safety with those around us having played fewer games. The problem for Brian Laws is that he has only won one of the last 10 games for the Clarets and the home form has evaporated with still no win away all season. The perception of Laws is also not being helped by the fact he was sacked at Sheffield Wednesday and indeed taking both clubs together he has only won one game in 22 matches this season. I really feel for Brian, he truly is a nice guy but unless the Clarets start to win and win quickly the calls for him to go are only going to increase more and more. Now is the time to get behind the manager and players but you just know in the real world that will not happen if results keep being so disappointing.
The Clarets Team Sheet
Steven Fletcher was still deemed too unfit to play with his broken hand. Injuries to Kevin McDonald and Jack Cork also gave Laws a selection headache in midfield. Andre Bikey once more got the job of trying to play in midfield, a position that in all honesty is looking more and more unsuitable for him but needs must! Wade Elliott also got a start playing out wide at least initially. There was good news on the bench too with Jay Rodriguez making an appearance in the eighteen for the first time since returning from his loan spell at Barnsley. This could be an indication that Laws would like to keep him available at the club rather than send him out on loan until the end of the season.
The line-up in summary was therefore as follows:
Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox, Elliott, Alexander, Bikey, Eagles, Paterson, Nugent
Subs: Weaver, Duff, Jordan, Edgar, Blake, Thompson, Rodriguez.
The Full Match Report
It was pretty novel to have a referee in charge without him being changed at the last minute and so scheduled Kent referee, Steve Bennett got this game underway in front of a nervous crowd with both sets of fans desperate for three points.
The Clarets made a lively start with Paterson coming close with a toe-poke that went just wide, It was then Chris Eagles turn to have a go from distance; his shot requiring a scrambled save from Marcus Hahnemann who managed to tip the ball round the post. The keeper also had to deal with a long-range effort from Alexander. Hahnemann at this stage of the game was certainly being kept busy and next it was the turn of Fox to test the keeper from a free-kick. Sadly for the Clarets the keeper passed the test and tipped the ball over the bar.
Wolves up to now playing 4-5-1 with just Doyle up front were not looking any threat whatsoever and their attacks had been limited to a weak header from David Jones comfortably dealt with by Jensen. A bizarre incident then followed when Doyle was set free with Jensen charging out of his area. The Beast head-butted Doyle in the backside and earned himself a booking.
That was bordering on the humorous but what followed next was certainly no joke for Clarets fans as we plotted our own downfall thanks to a terrible mistake in defence by Tyrone Mears
On 26 minutes, Mears attempted to head the ball back to Jensen but made a hash of it. The weak header did not have enough power to reach Jensen who was now desperately charging out to get to the ball before the advancing Jarvis could get to it. Jarvis though did get to it and simply rounded Jensen to tap the ball at walking pace into an empty net. Disaster and it took the stuffing out of players and fans alike.
When you are down, often the luck goes against you and in the 40th minute Fox had to have treatment for a suspected broken rib. He needed oxygen and looked in a bad way. There was no way he could carry on and was eventually stretchered off with Jordan having come on to replace him at left-back. Thankfully though it has since proved not to be as serious as first thought and Fox has a strong chance of playing in our next game at Wigan this Saturday.
The hard luck story continued one minute before the break following a free-kick by Mears. Carlisle knocked down the ball to Nugent who getting the better of his marker, Berra got in a shot that bounced high towards goal only to clip the top of the bar.
So that was it another disappointing half in which for the second time in two consecutive games we went into the break 1-0 down at home.
Surely we might get a bit more luck in the second-half? Well not quite, considering we were 2-0 down within two minutes of the re-start thanks to a deflected goal. A clearance from a corner was pounced on by the Wolves attack with the ball falling eventually to Guedioura. He got in a low shot that looked to be going well-wide until Carlisle`s backside got in the way to deflect the ball into the bottom corner of the net! If the first goal had taken the stuffing out of the Clarets fans, we had also after the second lost the giblets as well with Burnley now looking increasingly like Turkeys being prepared for Christmas.
We were not out of this yet though and the Clarets now at long-last began to show some fighting spirit despite the mountain they now had to climb to get anything from this game.
Almost instantly after the goal, the Clarets went down the other end with Paterson getting in a dangerous cross. The ball was blocked blatantly by Berra`s arm but of course the bad luck monster struck again with penalty appeals being turned down by Steve ‘Gordon` Bennett!
It was time to change things round and bring on some fresh Clarets legs so in a double-substitution off came Eagles and Bikey to be replaced by Thompson and Blake. There were ominous signs for Laws when a section of the home crowd booed his decision to take off Eagles, surely a sense of the frustration we were all feeling about the situation but not one I would ever condone. Booing is counter-productive and I just hope for Laws sake and our chances of avoiding the drop, this doesn`t become a regular occurrence between now and the end of the season.
At least Laws was vindicated by making the changes, we now looked a much more balanced side and began to play our best spell of football and enjoy the lion`s share of possession. Wolves though did have the odd flurry on the counter-account to remind us of the danger and Doyle nearly made it game over when his shot flew across the face of goal.
Blake though was now causing Wolves all sorts of problems and after 65 minutes he created some space to put over a cross that confused Hahnemann with the ball eventually hitting the foot of the post. So once again the woodwork and lady luck had come to Wolves rescue!
Eight minutes later though it was game on after we got a goal back with 17 minutes still on the clock.
A cross by Mears had been cleared but Alexander pounced to put the ball back in and there was Thompson to glance home his header and score his first goal of the season and his first since the Play-offs semi against Reading at the Madejski last season.
The Clarets were now in the ascendency and turned the screw even tighter with Wolves fans now feeling the pressure and living on a knife-edge as the clock ticked down. Elliott laid off a ball to Alexander who had a good attempt on goal putting his shot just a little too high. Once more Wolves though had the odd break to relieve the pressure and now it was the turn of Wolves’ substitute Michael Mancienne to try and seal the game. His skidding shot though was well-saved by Jensen and the onslaught at the other end could continue.
A header by Leon Cort from Blake’s corner was too high and then Blake himself tested the Wolves keeper with a shot that must have stung Hahnemann’s hands. It just wasn`t to be for the Clarets and as the final whistle blew there was that miserable feeling we now had it all to do to avoid the drop with games running out. We now have to pick ourselves up again and hope we can play with confidence and skill in our next crucial game away to Wigan on Saturday. We certainly can`t afford to gift anymore goals and it would be nice if we could get a little bit of luck for a change.
Match Detail
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox (Jordan, 40), Elliott, Alexander, Bikey, Eagles (Thompson, 55), Paterson, Nugent.
Subs not used: Weaver, Duff, Edgar, Rodriguez.
Goal: Thompson (73 )
Booked: Jensen
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley, Guedioura (Mancienne, 59), Henry, Jones (Keogh, 70), Jarvis (Ebanks-Blake, 78,), Doyle.
Subs not used: Hennessey, Elokobi, Vokes, Milijas.
Goals: Jarvis (26), Carlisle og (47)
Booked: Yellow Cards for Berra, Guedioura, Keogh, Mancienne
Possession: 58% Burnley, 42% Wolves (Source: BBC Sport)
Referee: Steve Bennett(Kent)
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It is just as well really I wasn’t writing this report walking back to the car after the match! I dont think the expletives would have got past the automatic word censor!
I found Nugent’s last two performances very below par yet he has two MOM’s from the crowd. Blake gets my vote despite his short time on the pitch.
Also, I don’t think Wolves were worse than Hull and not much between them and Stoke in terms of quality.
Can anybody tell me what has happened to Nimani? is he injured? even Jay Rod seems to be ahead of him now! not that I am complaining I would like Jay Rod to be given the odd 20 mins here and there, I just want to know where is Nimani?
I thought we made Wolves look better than they were but they were still awful. They do know how to grind out results though, I mean they had only won 2 games on the road all season before meeting us.
Pretty much agree with everything written above Phil. With regards to the markings, When Barnsey and I were doing our player ratings after the match I think Robbie was the only one we gave a 7 too, all of the others were a 6, 5 and a couple of 4’s! Again I dont think you can fault the effort ( especially second half) but something is missing ( maybe confidence). The second goal is pure and simple bad luck – although I thought they could easily have had a penalty from Pato’s challenge in the build up. The first, well, you cannot keep gifting goals to the opposition. Out of interest, How many have we been gifted this season? Short of the stupid penalty we got against Sunderland, I cannot think of any from the top of my head.
I think laws needs to start afresh with the centre defenders Cort and Carlisle ain’t good enough, Bikey is a far better defender than midfielder so why not pair Bikey and either Edgar or Duff. Last two home games Fox looks like a boy in a mans game I’m not a lover of Jordan but when he came on saturday the defence seemed more solid. As for the midfield everybody new at the start of the season we needed at least two more midfielders and that tosser coyle new that. The last two home games portsmouth and wolves every time burnley got the ball and started to attack the away teams stop the attack with a cheap foul and got everybody behind the ball, Laws needs to be telling his team to start doing that.
This was what we were saying at the Turf on Saturday Dale. basically nobody in the Prem seems to be gifting goals as much as we do,certainly not to us! I am strugging to recall anything on the scale of the Carlisle penalties and the Mears back-header
Watch the first goal again, Grezza, Wade and Bikey all had their backs to Jenson when he kicked it. minivr went ape, basically Grezza was telling Wade and Bikey what to do whilst Jenson boots it into the wind. We are creating our own defeats, I also put its time to give Weaver a game, I stick by that as Jenson gives the ball to the opposition more than Grezza lol. His kicking just puts pressure back on ourselves, I am not blaming him for all 60+ goals this season, but lets just try something different between the posts…..what have we got to lose?
Well it shouldn’t be difficult with four bloody keepers to choose from
I mentioned the luck aspect on another thread, but it does make you wonder when it’ll turn around and start working for us for a change, instead of constantly against us. Will lady luck come on board for the 8 game run in I wonder ? Come to think of it, Roy of the Rovers would be welcome as well. Come on the Clarets, and come on Brian, we haven’t given up yet.
I am not going to disagree with the ‘must do better’ views aired here. But I do think that an accounting of the season would make interesting viewing, totting up, in debit and credit columns: penalty shouts, other debatable decisions, deflections, individual errors, missed sitters, hit woodwork, and off-field antics that ‘unevened’ the playing field, such as McCarthy’s. All of which is, in one sense, irrelevant. But you could say, in the same way, that debating any aspect of the game, after the event, here or in fanzines or in books is irrelevant! Depending on what happens in the final games, I think there may well be legitimate arguments in years ahead as to whether we weren’t good enough, or weren’t lucky enough. Or were good enough; or were, in the end, dead lucky!
Interesting thought from CP and without putting on my anorak I guess that our bad/good luck is actually no different to other teams but because we see more of Burnley than any other side it is a touch exaggerated when something happens like it did with the second one we conceded on Saturday. Fact is, over a season, the best teams finish at the top and the not so good ones at the bottom. That doesn’t make us rubbish, it just means that other teams have better players, a sounder structure, more PL experience, better pies etc.. Some of them might even have more fans, but they won’t be better than we are when we get going. Wolves probably aren’t much better than us as a team but they have beaten us twice now so perhaps their all-round know how is just a bit better than ours at the moment. In my experience, luck only plays a part in one-off situations when there is no time for the fickle finger of football fate to get its own back !
We are not getting the rub of the green, but who was it that said you make your own luck in this game. We press the self destruct button to often.
The change of direction since Coyle left seems to have confused the players. I know we were crying out for it under Coyle but we wanted to move from Win Home/Lose Away to Win Home/Get summat away not Lose/Draw at Home/Lose Away. Is it possible we are just now making too many changes for each game and nobody can settle or understand their changing roles?
From not enough changes under Own to now having too many changes under Laws – You may be right Phil. Although I would say Laws has probably been more unlucky with injury ( having arguably his 4 prefered central midfielders ruled out at some point).
Yeah that’s true but some of his team selections have been a littlle bizarre and inconsistent to say the least eg Edgar left back/Fox left midfield at Fulham, Cork MoM at Villa dropped next game, Carlisle shocker against Pompey/keeps place. Elliott awful for so many games/keeps place until recently.How many strikers did we have on pitch at Bolton at one point? It just seems confusing and surely must be for the players too?
I wonder whether he knows what his best team is – I certainly don’t. Or perhaps he just picks the team match by match depending on who we’re playing. That’s fine, but it doesn’t seem to be working too well at present.
The only chance we’ve got now is that Laws is finally finding what he regards to be his best team . Don’t ask me how long it should take, but his substitutions in the last couple of games certainly worked for the good albeit unsuccessfully with regard to the all important 3 points. He also needs all players firing on all cylinders particularly Elliot, who we all know to be playing well below his usual creative self, but this could be due to all the upheaval since our good friend OC left. It’s all down to motivation and confidence from now on, at risk of stating the obvious, and the team obviously realise how close they were in the last 2 matches. And yes, the self destruct button needs to be left in the dressing room along with the buffet defence. I’m still trying to work out whether the ‘nothing to loose’ situation will help matters or make us more nervous. I hope it’s the former and that we start putting it together at Wigan on Saturday, with Blake and Eagles in the starting line up, and on fire.
“This is turning into a nightmare season…” That has to be one of my favourite quotes ever. About Burnley in the PL. I kid you not. Un-believable.
Agree with Rickers, the bad luck we are having stands out more. We have also had a fair bit of good luck with some of our home wins with other teams hitting posts, missing penalties etc. There was the penalty that Mears got when he just fell over and then Hull scored the great goal from the free kick that the ref disallowed for nothing really. I still think that the number of deflected goals is from us standing still watching them shoot instead of getting in at them and challenging. If you have a look at the goal again we have about seven defenders rushing over to the guy with the ball whilst the scorer is completely unmarked and has an hour to shoot. The ball then hits Carlisle who is stood still with no-one near him. If Carlisle (or someone) had have been tight on the scorer it wouldn’t have happened. If you watch other, better defenders, they are always challenging the attacker with the ball outside the area especially. Often forwards don’t shoot because someone is sitting on their backside and there are a lot of bodies between them and the goal. We need to be more agressive (not dirty) and man mark and start harrassing their players with and without the ball.