That's some advantage

Last updated : 24 November 2002 By Tony Scholes

Norwich boss Nigel Worthington was more than happy with the way his side played although disappointed they hadn’t been able to get anything from the game,

"It was just one of those days for us, on another day we could have scored three or four. Obviously I am disappointed to lose but as for the commitment and performance I have no complaints at all.

"We had six or seven good chances but they just wouldn’t go in but it was a game between two honest and committed sides and I thought the game was a very good advertisement for Division One football."

Stan definitely thought the Clarets deserved to win and was aware of just how good a game it was. He did though have words for the referee following the somewhat bizarre disallowing of a Burnley goal in the first half.

"It was a good game and one the supporters will have enjoyed. We played some good football and it was a competitive game. I’m delighted to have won.

"We were in the ascendancy in the first half and when we got to half time we just had a chat and tried to keep the tempo going.

"We should have had a penalty in the first half and we had a goal disallowed for offside when they had two men on the goal line. Glen was fouled, having his shirt pulled, but he crossed it and Ian Moore scored. The flag went up for offside though even though they had men on the line. The referee told me at half time that he didn’t give the penalty but played advantage but we scored and then had it disallowed. That’s some advantage!

"Norwich played well and Marlon had to make some good saves. He was given man of the match but I though any of them could have got it, there were some good performances.

"I had to bring Tony Grant on for Paul Cook who injured his shoulder. He’s been to hospital and there is nothing broken. We’ll just have to see how it is."

Burnley enjoy sweet revenge

Ron Clarke (Sunday Times)

That Norwich tipped Burnley to a play-off place last season is still a painful memory for the Turf Moor faithful, so this victory will be seen as a little bit of revenge. It is also a reminder that the Clarets, 10 points behind the third-placed Canaries before this game, could still be thereabouts when promotion to the Premiership is decided.

The opening period was dominated by the Lancashire side as Burnley threatened their surprisingly lacklustre visitors.

Robbie Blake was at the centre of almost everything. In a moment of quality he set up the ball from Paul Cook’s rolled free kick only to see his volley turned away by Robert Green in the Norwich goal.

Moments later, Cook teased a ball along the six-yard line that just evaded Lee Briscoe and Ian Moore. A similar margin later saw Moore’s tap-in from Glen Little’s cross controversially ruled offside.

On half-time Norwich finally entered the contest with Paul McVeigh’s long-range shot turned onto a post by the Burnley goalkeeper Marlon Beresford.

McVeigh is something of an enigma. Prior to the start of this season, he had scored nine goals in 54 games: he has scored 11 this year.

The Canaries emerged a little more positive after the interval, with Mark Rivers foiled by Beresford and then Iwan Roberts missing from close range. Their momentum was interrupted as Briscoe hit the side netting and it was then halted by Mark McGregor nodding in Blake’s floated cross for his first league goal.

In desperation, Norwich manager Nigel Worthington made a triple substitution but it was to no avail as Little scrambled home Blake’s hanging ball at the far post. Revenge was complete.