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I always thought that all four wouldn't win and accepted that we were the most likely to miss out on the three points today but should we get them I was certain one of Millwall, Birmingham and Norwich would slip up and let us in with Birmingham the one I expected to drop points.
How on earth could we expect Norwich to see the opposition goalkeeper sent off with just 42 second gone, I would have settled for the Coventry goalkeeper leaving us just for stoppage time when Gazza was taking free kicks.
We had no control regards the goings on at The New Den, St. Andrews or Carrow Road but as for the Turf I thought we played as well as we have for some time at home.
We were without Tony Grant in fact he wasn't even on the bench, maybe the rumours were true and It was a shaky start and Coventry with coming close to taking an early lead. As the first half progressed though we started to get on top but just couldn't get the breakthrough.
Mooro was causing them problems with his pace but we didn't test Hedman often enough and in fact his best save in the first forty five minutes was from Weller and a shot that would probably have gone wide. As we went off at half time we got confirmed news that Birmingham were still drawing but the other two were winning. One goal from us would take us fifth.
Half time saw three members of the 1987 Orient game squad grace the Turf again when Ian Britton, Ashley Hoskin and Phil Malley came out to make the half time draw. Billy Rodaway should have been with them but in his absence came the manager that day Brian Miller and what a super reception he got.
Into the second half and news got worse as Birmingham started to score goals but with Norwich still only one up against Stockport we could still do it if only we could get in front.
With just twenty four minutes left Stan introduced leading scorer Gareth Taylor for Mitchell Thomas and with just his second touch of the ball he scored the goal that for a short time put us back into the play off places. Norwich were still 1-0 up at that time and we went back above them on goals scored.
The bad news came through shortly afterwards that Norwich had scored again and Payts was immediately thrown in with Gazza not far behind him. We threw the kitchen sink in as we went for broke, with Stockport not likely to pull one back at Carrow Road we needed to get a goal from somewhere.
We took chances at the back but we had no option and thankfully the one chance that fell Coventry's way was blazed over by the over priced Lee Hughes. The Clarets piled forwards and one Glen Little cross came to nothing as nobody could get on the end of it and a header was well saved by Hedman.
The 90 minutes were up and the 4th official signalled there would be four more minutes. Twice Coventry gave away free kicks on the edge of their penalty box, Gazza took them both and Hedman made two magnificent saves.
One final push and the ball came into the box from the left and it finally fell to Paul Weller who blazed it into the Jimmy Mac. The final whistle blew but the 1-0 win felt worse than any defeat all season. We couldn't have asked for more today, we played well and with great pride.
It just wasn't to be today, we should never have needed to win points on the last day, but we did and we finish just where we finished last season, 7th and one place below the play offs. This time because of one goal.
Man of the match today wasn't easy but it was really a choice of two for me, either Arthur at the back or Mooro up front. After long deliberation I have gone for Mooro who once again worked his socks off for the cause.
Another season over and I don't know just how the players feel right now but I for one am well and truly gutted.
The teams were:
Burnley: Nik Michopoulos, Dean West (Andy Payton 78), Steve Davis, Arthur Gnohere, Mitchell Thomas (Gareth Taylor 65), Glen Little, Paul Weller, Kevin Ball, Lee Briscoe, Ian Moore (Paul Gascoigne 82), David Johnson. Subs not used: Gordon Armstrong, Paul Cook.
Coventry City: Magnus Hedman, Marc Edworthy, Richard Shaw, Youssef Chippo, Lee Mills, John Eustace (Paul Trollope 50), Mo Konjic, Gary McSheffrey, Robert Betts, Craig Pead (Lee Hughes 83), Colin Healy. Subs not used: Barry Quinn, Morten Hyldgaard, Calum Davenport.
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol).
