It was like the Alamo

Last updated : 25 February 2008 By Tony Scholes
Although we dominated the game Sturrock didn't see it that way and after the game he was quick to praise his two strikers neither of whom found the net. "People will look at Steve MacLean and say 'He's not doing this and he's not doing that', but the job he's doing for us when the other team has got the ball is exceptional," he said.

"Burnley had a sitting midfield player today and he screened him very well and that forced them to play the ball long which allowed Krisztian Timar to use his attributes.

I feel sorry for the boy Easter because he does some fantastic things, and their goalkeeper Brian Jensen has had two great saves off him today. The problem with Eastie is that he's a goalscorer, pure and simple. He doesn't understand he's doing a fantastic job for the team at this minute in time. I'm trying to put that forward to him.

It doesn't really matter who scores the goals. I think Easter has got to be appreciative both he and Steve have done a fantastic job for the team in the last four games. They are getting a good understanding between each other and I'm sure the goals will start to come for both of them."

Sturrock was delighted with the full debut of Gary Teale but admitted he only came into the side because Jim Paterson tweaked a hamstring. That forced him to move Peter Halmosi onto the left with Teale coming in on the right hand side.

He said: "The amount of times we should have passed the ball to Gary Teale today was incredible. I know him and I'm sure he will let them know what he thinks about it all, and I'm sure they will be passing the ball to him on a regular occurrence from now."

He had some praise for the Clarets and added: "We played against a good side today, but the essence of the game is to put the ball in the net, and we have done it three times. At the same time I can't really say my goalie has been worked too hard. There was one that came across the goal in the second half and he had a wee touch on it, but that was it. Having said that, I don't think we played to the standards we have been achieving lately, but a win is a win."

Clarets boss Owen Coyle admitted that it was the way we conceded the goals that cost us the game. "I know the reason why we lost that game, but I can't believe we did lose it," he said. "We made big, big individual mistakes for each of the goals in a game I thought we dominated from start to finish.

"We bounced back from a goal in their first attack to score a good goal ourselves, but for their second goal we had two or three chances to clear the ball and it has been allowed to carry on.

"In the second half it was like the Alamo and some of the football was terrific. Ultimately we went and lost it through the third goal which was a good finish, but again it should have been cleared."

Explaining the situation regarding the missing Ade Akinbiyi and the early substitution of Stanislav Varga, Coyle said: "It's hard to take and everything that could conspire against us has. Ade and Stan both felt unwell on Friday and they were not able to train. Ade couldn't make the sixteen. Stan tried but was feeling the effects and lasted only just over twenty minutes.

"I won't pick out individuals because we will win, lose and draw collectively. Some lads made mistakes, but those players have won us games before. We will take our kick in the teeth and move forwards."

Looking forward to the Coventry game he said: "I would hope to have Ade and Stan available and I'm hoping it is just a 24 hour bug. We will monitor Andrew Cole and I would certainly hope to have him involved in the sixteen too."