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It's certainly been a long season and it could yet be another month from coming to an end. Nine pre-season games, a full league programme, no less than twelve cup games and now just one more win needed to take us even further and into the play offs.
The mathematics are simple now. The win against Sheffield United on Monday has left us needing one win from the last two games to make sure we finish in that top six. Players, staff and fans alike will be hoping that can be achieved tomorrow and thus taking the pressure off the Bristol City game next week.
Neither game will be easy, there is no such thing as an easy game, and tomorrow's opponents Southampton still have much to play for. But if we show the same level of commitment as we did on Monday, if we show the same desire as we did on Monday and if we show the same quality as we did on Monday then tomorrow evening can be one of celebration.
Over the last few years any number of clubs have been in crisis and the club in the spotlight right now is Southampton. It seems on all of our visits there, since they came down in 2005, have been in an atmosphere generated by angry home fans.
We had the missing Harry Redknapp the first time with the Burnley fans chanting, "Where's your Harry gone" and all the time there has been strong opposition to the duck shooting Rupert Lowe who has presided over the club during much of their recent decline.
No one was surprised when they went into administration, or should I saw when they cutely arranged for their holding company to go into administration. Not even the most gullible of organisations known as The Football League fell for that one and this week they handed them the ten points Sporting Sanctions penalty.
It leaves them certain of being relegated and so they are now chasing points in effect for next season. If they finish this season outside the relegation places the penalty will be applied immediately and they will start next season in League One alongside all the other clubs with no points. Should they remain in the bottom three then next season will start with that ten point deficit.
Tomorrow's game will be the last Championship game to be played at St. Mary's for at least sixteen months with the Saints set to play their football outside the top two divisions for the first time since 1960.
Manager Mark Wotte reported today that he has 22 players to select from for the game. One player who definitely won't play is Wayne Thomas although it is pleasing to report that the former Burnley defender did return to action this week for the reserves after recovering from cruciate surgery.
Simon Gillett has also returned to full fitness but Wotte has confirmed that he, like Thomas, will not be considered for the game.
The Southampton team could be the one that lined up last week against Sheffield Wednesday. If that's the case it will be: Kelvin Davis, Lloyd James, Chris Perry, Jan Paul Saeijs, Rudi Skacel, Adam Lallana, Paul Wotton, David McGoldrick, Andrew Surman, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Jason Euell. Subs: Tommy Forecast, Zoltan Liptak, Ryan Smith, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marek Saganowski.
The big question for Burnley is regarding the fitness of Steven Thompson. Thommo has missed the last six games after being substituted early in the 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest and there remains a question over his fitness.
Manager Owen Coyle said today: "Steven is desperate to be involved. His ankle is still slightly swollen, but he's prepared to put himself on the line, and that's the type of lad he is.
"That's one of the things we love about him, but unless he convinces me he's bang on I can't take a risk with him. We're not that well off that we can gamble and, if it doesn't come off, bring one or two in. That's not the situation, so we have to make sure he's right."
I don't think he'll be risked and I think Coyle will go with the same players who beat Sheffield United on Monday which was: Brian Jensen, Rhys Williams, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Graham Alexander, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson. Subs: Diego Penny, Michael Duff, Kevin McDonald, Joey Gudjonsson, Jay Rodriguez.
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Clarke Carlisle returned from suspension in place of David Unsworth and Ade Akinbiyi came in for appendicitis victim Kyle Lafferty in the only two changes from the side beaten against Sheffield United a week earlier.
We started the game well but without being able to get ourselves in front. However, for much of the first half it was a scrappy affair and certainly the home side never put us under any sort of pressure.
In the latter stages of the half we got back on top and as everyone was ready for the break we went in front. Carlisle got to a Robbie Blake free kick but Richard Wright made a good save at the expense of a corner. Robbie took it and it was Steven Caldwell who met it to head us in front.
The first few minutes of the second half left us fortunate to be in front. Brian Jensen all but gifted them a goal in the first minute but it thankfully hit the post and then they missed a very good chance a couple of minutes later. That though was the end of Southampton and we dominated the rest of the game.
The second goal wouldn't come and in the end we were thankful for Jensen who saved brilliantly from Youssef Safri at the end before referee Paul Taylor blew his final whistle (about the only decision he gave in our favour all day) to signal a 1-0 win for the Clarets.
We played well, there were good performances all over the pitch. Both central defenders were outstanding but the man of the match for Burnley was without doubt Ade Akinbiyi who had dragged the Southampton defence all over the city for ninety minutes.
The teams were;
Southampton: Richard Wright, Jermaine Wright, Chris Perry, Chris Lucketti, Andrew Surman, Mario Licker (Nathan Dyer 64), Youssef Safri, Inigo Idiakez (Jhon Viafara 79), Jason Euell, Stern John, Bradley Wright-Phillips (Marek Saganowski 79). Subs not used: Kelvin Davis, Vincent Pericard.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, James O'Connor (Joey Gudjonsson 64), Chris McCann, Robbie Blake (John Spicer 90), Ade Akinbiyi, Andrew Cole (Alan Mahon 79). Subs not used: Gabor Kiraly, Michael Duff.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
2005/06 | C | a | 1-1 | 21,592 | Akinbiyi |
. | . | h | 1-1 | 10,636 | Gray |
2006/07 | C | h | 2-3 | 13,051 | Jones Gray |
. | . | a | 0-0 | 20,486 | . |
2007/08 | C | h | 2-3 | 10,944 | McCann Akinbiyi |
. | . | a | 1-0 | 21,762 | Caldwell |
2008/09 | C | h | 3-2 | 11,229 | Perry(og) Gudjonsson(2) |