When a team is under pressure, when the backs are against the wall, there are only two courses of action; surrender meekly or fight back.
Burnley’s backs are currently against the wall; three consecutive defeats, including the concession of no fewer than thirteen goals. Burnley are in freefall, spiralling downwards towards the Championship.
The question therefore needs to be asked, do Burnley, their players, their manager and their coaching staff, possess sufficient reserves of chutzpah to launch a successful fightback?
The Clarets’ visit to West Ham yesterday was the latest instalment in what has become a catalogue of disasters throughout the opening salvos of the season.
Despite the defeat however, there were one or two straws to clutch onto; the indomitable spirit that has underpinned Burnley’s Premier League odyssey, flickered into life on occasions, embodied by Ben Mee’s remarkable goal-line clearance to prevent Burnley falling 2-0 behind.
But that clearance came as a direct result of a misplaced pass from Ashley Westwood; and the early goal which Burnley conceded, was due entirely to James Tarkowski’s Bambi-like stumbling which ushered Marko Arnautovic in on Joe Hart’s goal.
Burnley went through pretty much the whole of last season without making such crass blunders, this season, they have become commonplace.
Nevertheless, despite being overrun in terms of possession, Burnley did summon up a fightback; an impressive piece of midfield penetration on the stroke of half time culminated in Johann Berg Gudmundsson stroking the ball into the corner of the West Ham goal.
Then, after going 2-1 behind in the second half; Chis Wood rose to head in Brady’s corner to level the scores once again. With less than quarter of an hour remaining, Burnley could - and last season would – have seen the game through to emerge with a point.
Instead, they let in two more goals; although West Ham’s third was somewhat unfortunate; Ashley Barnes was fouled at the origin of the attack, and Ben Mee was mortified to find that his deflection took the ball away from Hart and into the goal.
Even after that sickening blow, Wood rattled the West Ham crossbar with another header after Charlie Taylor’s thrusting run and teasing cross.
There was still enough time for one more goal, unfortunately it was scored by West Ham, by Hernandez, after his run had split the Clarets’ defence.
So, another weekend-ruining defeat for Burnley supporters to endure; another indication that those teams who Burnley were able to repel and overcome last season have now progressed to the point where Burnley are now left trailing in their wake.
It is a fair question to put to Burnley’s ownership and management to ask why Burnley cannot entice players of the quality of Arnautovic and Filipe Anderson to join the club? It is also reasonable to ask why Burnley’s style of play suddenly looks so pedestrian, so lethargic and so unimaginative?
Next week, Burnley visit Leicester City for the first home Premier League match at the Kingpower Stadium since the tragic events of last week.
It will be an emotional maelstrom and Burnley’s presence may well feel like an intrusion on the grieving process. Not the best conditions under which to play what has now become a fixture from which Burnley must emerge with at least point or three.
This article was written by Dave Thornley who contributes regularly for Clarets Mad.