It was a must-win game for us

Last updated : 08 April 2002 By Tony Scholes

Apart from beating Gillingham we saw Birmingham and Norwich both held to home draws and Wimbledon lose at home and that has now given us a lead over most of the other play off contenders.

The win over Gillingham was a match that both managers agreed the Clarets deserved to win and after years of annoying us with good performances for Gillingham their manager Andy Hessenthaler was very complimentary about the Clarets and Stan.

"Burnley had to beat us sooner or later, we tried hard but we had a couple of injuries for today's game. It was a tough game for us and we knew it would be hard.

"Burnley are a good side and they are up in the play-offs, deservedly in my book but goals win games and the first goal gave them the confidence to go on. They deserved their win in the end, but I'm not knocking my players because we've had another great season."

"With Manchester City up already, I would expect West Brom to go up automatically, but I would like to see Burnley go up through the play-offs. It is a bit of a lottery and anyone can do it, but I'd like to see Burnley do it. Stan Ternent is a gentleman and I can only learn a lot from him. I think he has done fantastic for this football club so far. So for me I would like to see Burnley do it."

Stan was happy enough as the Clarets got back to winning ways and had kind words in return for Hessenthaler,

"I thought we controlled the game on a difficult surface and in really difficult conditions with the wind. I thought all we needed was a break and that's all we said at half time, just to keep pegging away. It was difficult to pass the ball, but the most important thing was to get the three points and it was a massive match for us.

"We could have scored two or three in the first half to be fair and when we got the goals, we could have scored more. The skipper did extremely well because he hasn't played for a while and he helps but, it was a good all round team performance and once we got going, we were fantastic.

"All in all it's been a good day's work and I just found out I won the club sweep on the National, so it's been a good day so far!

"Andy Hessenthaler has done extremely well at Gillingham and he should be manager of the year for what he has done there in my view but we've laid the ghost to rest about Gillingham."

"I don't know what is going to happen in the games next weekend, nor does anyone else, so we have to take the attitude that we have six points to play for and that we need all those six points. I am not looking at the table and working out what might happen, what we do know is that if we take those six points then we are in the play-offs."

"We were bound to be nervy and for there to be some tension given our position in the table. It was a must-win game for us and I thought our players showed commendable spirit and that they got their just reward. I thought we controlled the game and it was a massive win for us because it means that we are still in the top half dozen.

"If we are still there in two weeks time then we are in the play-offs and taken the next step along the path to achieving our main objective which is to have a shot at getting into the Premiership."

Onto views from some of the players and first Gillingham's Iffy Onuora,

"Goals change games and when they scored it gave them a little bit of confidence. We lost our way for a few minutes when they got the second and from then on they were relaxed and started to knock the ball about and made it very difficult for us. We were missing a few players because of injuries but we have got a decent squad and as far as the players who came in today go I don't think there was any disgrace in their performances.

"It was one of those games where they had everything to play for and us not so much. I think they will stay in the playoffs but whether they will progress I don't know. There are going to be some big clubs in there Wolves, possibly Birmingham. So, where they go from there I don't know.

"The difference today was goals. At 0-0 I thought that we were as comfortable as you can be away from home and then they scored. All I could see of the goal was the ball bouncing around the six-yard box for an eternity it seemed and then finally it went in. That changed the whole complexion. I thought they were a little bit nervous with some missed passes going astray, but as soon as the second goal went in they could relax and play their game and we were chasing.

"Away from home you expect to be on the back foot, which doesn't help, and you are picking at scraps a little bit. Things never broke for us up front. It was just one of those games."

David Johnson took a look at the forthcoming games and said,

"Before the game I sat down and looked at the table and worked out that we needed all nine points to be sure. Things have gone our way against Gillingham but we still feel we need to win the two games we have coming up. It might just be that if we win at Grimsby next weekend that will be enough, but we can't rely on other results."

And needless to say Bally wanted to talk about the goal and was more hesitant to discuss the last two weekends – so who scored it Bally?

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"To be honest I don't think there is any point in looking at the table. We are not there until it is mathematically impossible for any other club to knock us out of the top six. We know that if we get two wins in our last two games we are in the play-offs - it's as simple as that.

"We've watched the goal on the telly and I must admit it does look as though I have scored from about six inches out. I'll claim it, but it is difficult to see. The ball was bouncing about, I had a header, Mooro got a shot in but it does look as though I put it over the line. What is more important is that we got the three points, though I'd love to think that I've got my first goal of the season."

"Goals boost confidence and when we got that first one it gave us a massive lift. So long as we get the wins and get in the play-offs that is all that matters and it doesn't matter who scores, though we will be scrutinising the video of the goal again over the next few days to make sure that it is mine and not Mooro's."

Burnley bolster hopes of place in play-offs

By Robert Smith at Turf Moor (Sunday Telegraph)

BURNLEY improved their play-off prospects as second-half goals from Ian Moore and David Johnson gave them victory over Gillingham.

Both sides seemed to have forgotten their shooting boots in the first half but Stan Ternent's side rediscovered their cutting edge after the break and went on to collect three invaluable points.

Not only did the win lift Burnley above Millwall into fourth place, it ended a miserable run of home form that had seen them win just one of their previous nine encounters at Turf Moor.

Burnley started brighter and could have opened the scoring inside three minutes when Johnson, six yards out, dragged his shot across the face of goal.

It needed the alert Barry Ashby to block Lee Briscoe's goalbound strike in the seventh minute, but that represented the last meaningful act for some time as Gillingham began to gain a foothold in the match.

Gillingham goalkeeper Jason Brown made his first save of the match after 22 minutes, from Steve Davis' mis-hit shot, with Ty Gooden sending another long-range strike wide of the mark at the other end.

Gooden was called upon in a defensive capacity just after the half-hour mark, getting his body in the way of Glen Little's powerful drive, while Briscoe continued the trend of wayward shooting with a wild left-footed strike.

It took less than five minutes of the second half for Burnley to threaten the visitors' goal, although Moore's header was little more than catching practice for Brown.

Burnley gained their reward for a more attacking approach, though, when Little crossed for Moore to fire home from six yards in the 55th minute.

Burnley goalkeeper Nik Michopoulos had his fingers stung by Shaw's long-range strike, before Johnson doubled the lead after 62 minutes.

Racing on to Davis' perceptive through-ball, Johnson beat Ashby before slotting the ball under the advancing Brown for his fifth goal in six games since joining on loan from Nottingham Forest.

Davis, Johnson and Arthur Gnohere tried their luck from distance as Burnley's confidence soared, but Moore wasted the best chance of a third goal when, just six yards out, he failed to hit the target.

Johnson was replaced by Gareth Taylor 13 minutes from time, and with him went much of Burnley's threat.

The nearest Gillingham came to grabbing a consolation arrived in the final minute when Michopoulos saved well from Smith.

Johnson fires Burnley's ambition

Pete Oliver at Turf Moor (Sunday Times)

STAN TERNENT not only saw his striking protege David Johnson score his fifth goal in six games since arriving from Nottingham Forest to tighten Burnley's grip on a playoff place, but also won the club's Grand National sweepstake. Not a bad day for the Clarets boss.

Johnson, a former youngster with Manchester United, earned big-money moves to Ipswich Town and Forest after being given his chance at Bury by Ternent.

The 25-year-old is now repaying that favour following a lone move from the City Ground which is proving of immense value to his current employers who climbed back up to fourth in the table with only their second home league win since Christmas.

Ian Moore put Burnley ahead 10 minutes into the second half after a wonderful run and cross from Glen Little. Seven minutes later Johnson rounded Barry Ashby before drilling home a low shot.

Ternent said: "He has been fantastic and a complete no-risk signing for me. He's a quality player and a top-class striker."

Johnson looks set to complete a permanent move in the summer as Forest try to lose a £3m player from their wage bill.

Whether Johnson will be playing in the Premiership remains to be seen but he is certainly doing his bit.

His goal relieved the tension around Turf Moor and Burnley, almost undone in the first half by efforts from Paul Shaw and Iffy Onuora, finished looking more like the side that had led the division to the turn of the year.