|
Just one point from the two away games, when we very much deserved more, has seen us drop down to eighth in the table and looking to get some good results over the next week to get back up ahead of the international break.
That starts with Bristol City and hopefully the Clarets can take the sort of form into this afternoon's game that they've shown in each of the last two games in particular, at Crystal Palace when we so much deserved a win and then in the Carling Cup victory over Bolton last Tuesday.
The two big stories to come out of Bristol City recently have been the signing of England goalkeeper David James. It was a surprise move and one that is rumoured to have been a factor in the even bigger news which was the departure of Steve Coppell just a few days into the start of the season.
It left Bristol City searching for a new manager again, but this time the search took only a few hours and saw Keith Millen step up on a three year deal.
The season hasn't started too well for them, and Portsmouth's big 6-1 win over Leicester last night has seen them drop into the bottom three although it is home form that has been costing them.
They've failed to win any of their four home games in the league although have been beaten only once on the road, that coming at Ipswich.
Millen has admitted the pressure is off them somewhat on their travels and is expecting a good performance from his side this afternoon.
With Marvin Elliott, the biggest doubt, having recovered it looks as though Millen will have a full strength squad to select from. His starting line up is expected to include summer signings James and Albert Adomah as well as more recent captures, Jonathan Stead from Ipswich and Danny Rose the Spurs youngster who recently signed on a season long youth loan.
Their team last week in the home defeat against Coventry was: David James, Christian Ribeiro, Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Jamie McAllister, Danny Haynes, Marvin Elliott, Cole Skuse, Danny Rose, Albert Adomah, Jonathan Stead. Subs: Dean Gerken, Damion Stewart, Lee Johnson, David Clarkson, Ivan Sproule, Brett Pitman, Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Brian Laws has hinted there could be changes as he looks to get the best out of his squad. He made three changes on Tuesday, one of them forced due to the injury sustained by Ross Wallace at Palace.
Wallace is fit again, and McCann apart, we have a fully fit squad to select from and it wouldn't come as a big surprise if he reverted to the team that played so well at Palace last Saturday.
That team was: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Chris Eagles, Chris Iwelumo, Ross Wallace. Subs: Lee Grant, Michael Duff, Leon Cort, Graham Alexander, Dean Marney, Steven Thompson, Jay Rodriguez.
|
That left Burnley still needing points to ensure a play off place in the final game of the season, at home against Bristol City.
We started so well, but didn't get the early goal, and when news filtered through that Jon Parkin had scored for Preston we were, albeit very briefly, in seventh place in the table. Before the fuss had died down at Deepdale though we were on our way to the play offs.
Just three minutes before half time we went in front through a Graham Alexander penalty and two minutes later Wade Elliott doubled the lead. Going into the break with a 2-0 lead was calming the nerves and in truth there was never any chance of us relinquishing that lead.
The only problems in the second half were injuries to Clarke Carlisle and Wade Elliott as we coasted to a win. The third came when Bradley Or inexplicably handled in the box for Grezza to get his second penalty and Joey Gudjonsson, with what proved to be his last league goal for Burnley, wrapped up a 4-0 win.
The league campaign was over, the season was far from over.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Rhys Williams, Clarke Carlisle (Kevin McDonald 61), Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Graham Alexander, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott (Joey Gudjonsson 57), Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson (Steven Thompson 77). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Jay Rodriguez.
Bristol City: Adriano Basso, Bradley Orr, Liam Fontaine, Izzy Iriekpen, Jamie McAllister (Jamie McCombe 80), Michael McIndoe (Ivan Sproule 55), Lee Johnson, Marvin Elliott, Cole Skuse, Nicky Maynard (Gavin Williams 55), Dele Adebola. Subs not used: Stephen Henderson, Peter Styvar.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
1994/95 | 1 | h | 1-1 | 11,067 | Robinson |
| . | . | a | 1-1 | 6,717 | Eyres |
1995/96 | 2 | h | 0-0 | 9,327 | . |
| . | . | a | 1-0 | 6,612 | Nogan |
1996/97 | 2 | h | 2-3 | 9,538 | Gleghorn Weller |
| . | . | a | 1-2 | 10,013 | Smith |
1997/98 | 2 | a | 1-3 | 11,136 | Barnes |
| . | . | h | 1-0 | 10,600 | Payton(pen) |
1999/2000 | 2 | a | 0-0 | 11,510 | . |
| . | . | h | 2-0 | 10,175 | Cook Cooke |
2007/08 | C | a | 2-2 | 14,079 | Gray Carlisle |
| . | . | h | 0-1 | 12,109 | . |
2008/09 | C | a | 2-1 | 16,108 | Paterson Thompson |
| . | . | h | 4-0 | 18,005 | Alexander(2 2pens) Elliott Gudjonsson |
