Clarets make it six out of six against a far from Super Caley

Last updated : 02 August 2008 By Tony Scholes
Remco van der Schaaf
Remco van der Schaaf - man of the match
Goals from Clarets Mad's 2007/08 player of the year Wade Elliott and new signing Chris Eagles just before half time were enough to ensure a sixth successive win despite CT pulling one back during the second half following a mistake by Steven Caldwell.

Results might not be so important in pre-season, but having started with a defeat in North Carolina as we all sat into the early hours of the morning in front of our computer screens it has been almost plain sailing with only Queen of the South preventing us from winning.

I know it means nothing other than getting the players ready for the new season but there was plenty to please this afternoon whilst there was also some concerns to consider, particularly defensively where we continue to give goals away to easily.

Owen Coyle fielded five of his six new signings and there was also good news for the sixth Kevin McDonald who was back on the bench after injury and was able to enjoy a late cameo role as we made changes during the second half.

The Clarets lined up with Robbie Blake on the left and Wade Elliott on the right with new signing Eagles playing a central role behind lone striker Martin Paterson. That I am sure is how it was intended but the system was pretty fluid (I think the Dutch call it total football) and there was certainly a lot of interchanging of positions.

We dominated the game right from the off and the SPL side had little answer as we piled forward time and again. Martin Paterson put two shots just wide in the opening ten minutes and in between that both Chris McCann and Eagles had shots at goal.

It looked just a matter of time before the first goal came but somehow CT survived. They saw both Robbie Blake and Eagles come close with free kicks, Blake's just going over and the keeper saving the Eagles effort.

And so it continued. We weren't being asked any questions defensively and even when they did come at us they found a formidable barrier in Remco van der Schaaf and make no mistake the Dutchman looks a real find for the Clarets.

Paterson was unlucky with his next effort which was saved by the keeper and then, just as it looked as though we would go in at half time goalless, we scored twice in three minutes. The first came after a superb move that led to the ball reaching Wade on the left hand side. He turned to pass the defender on the outside then came back and hit a shot past the goalkeeper and right into the corner.

Having finally scored the first home goal of 2008/09 the second one wasn't far behind. Robbie could have had a shot himself as he benefited in the box from a defensive error but he played in new boy Eagles who hit home for his first goal in Burnley colours.

Two goals up at half time we sat back and waited for the second half avalanche, but it didn't come as the Clarets struggled to get anywhere near the sort of form they'd shown in the first half.

We had our moments but we didn't put CT under any real pressure at any time although when they did pull one back it came out of the blue. We do have a habit of letting balls bounce and that's what Caldwell did. Even then he should have got away with it but he was too easily beaten by Andy Barrowman who then hit home into the corner to Penny's left.

By this time we'd already made a couple of changes and it was the cue for Coyle to make more leaving only Graham Alexander and Michael Duff on for the entire game. I don't think that ever helps and we didn't threaten again, in fact CT could have got an equaliser but Barrowman this time hit his shot against the post. That was just about it as the Clarets recorded a 2-1 win.

Overall though, anything other than a Burnley win would have been unjust given our first half domination and there was certainly much to be pleased about. Some of the passing at times was a delight and a side with such as Blake and Eagles pulling the strings and with players like Alan Mahon waiting in the wings surely is going to create opportunities.

There were some really good individual performances but choosing a man of the match I didn't find too difficult. Right in the middle of the pitch I thought Remco van der Schaaf was outstanding again and he gets my vote.

That's it now - nine played, seven wins along with one draw and one defeat, the last six games all won with sixteen goals scored and only three conceded. I know it all counts for nothing but it can only have given us confidence.

Twenty goals have been scored with an amazing fourteen different goalscorers including manager Owen Coyle. There are goals in this team, but we have to tighten up at the back and not make it quite so easy for the opposition to score.

We've got a week now until the next game, and that's when it does count. See you at Hillsborough.

The teams were;

Burnley: Diego Penny (Brian Jensen 70), Graham Alexander, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell (Clarke Carlisle 69), Christian Kalvenes (Steven Jordan 54), Wade Elliott (Steve Jones 74), Remco van der Schaaf (Kevin McDonald 69), Chris McCann (Joey Gudjonsson 45), Robbie Blake (Aleksandrs Solovjovs 74), Chris Eagles (Alan Mahon 79), Martin Paterson (Ade Akinbiyi 69). Subs not used: Bes Berisha, Adam Kay.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Michael Fraser, Ross Tokely, Phil McGuire (Jamie Duff 64), Grant Munro, Richard Hastings, Don Cowie, Ian Black, Russell Duncan, Roy McBain (Dougie Imrie 64), Andy Barrowman, Adam Rooney (Rory McAllister 79). Subs not used: Lionel Djebi-Zadi, David Proctor, Barry Wilson, Iain Vigurs, Garry Wood, Ryan Esson.

Referee: Mike Jones (Chester).

Attendance: 4,406.