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Nobody seemed to be predicting a win but that’s exactly what happened and the Clarets have returned home with a fully deserved 1-0 win with a goal from Ian Moore.
That doesn’t tell the half of it though, this was not some ordinary performance against a disappointing Leicester but a magnificent performance against probably the best side we have played all season.
Much has been said about Leicester’s debts and the new stadium we were visiting for the first time today is one of the main reasons for those debts. Some have described the stadium as impressive but they certainly didn’t look very closely. It affords excellent views, even in the corner where we were situated, but all new stadia do. But this is not a Stadium of Light, Pride Park or even a Madejski Stadium. It is more the cheap and nasty Britannia Stadium style, looks it and is not at all impressive.
Before kick off it was good to see the Burnley players warming up wearing Kick Racism Out shirts as the Anti Racism Week gets underway, a pity then that we still had to listen to some racist chants from the Burnley fans on this day of all days.
But it was on the pitch where we should be looking and a performance that will be making the First Division sit up and take serious notice. I think this was our best performance so far in 2002 and is a million miles away from the appalling shambles we witnessed at Reading less than eight weeks ago.
It was always going to be a tough game, Leicester are a strong physical side with a lot of experience, but after a couple of early scares we settled well and gave as much as we got in a first half that was more intriguing than exciting.
Leicester may have had more possession but they didn’t create too much in the way of chances and we did look comfortable at the back. At the other end we hardly tested Ian Walker and the nearest we came was from a Robbie Blake effort that went over the bar to end the best move of the half.
A 0-0 scoreline at half time was just about right, the Clarets had become only the second team to prevent Leicester scoring in the first half of a game at this ground.
Leicester introduced a former player at half time, the player we featured in our math preview Andy Lochhead. He was afforded a superb reception from the crowd and particularly from the visiting Clarets.
After a good start to the second half it looked for a brief second that we had fallen behind as Leicester got the ball into the net but the assistant’s flag was up for offside. Thankfully it was disallowed but this was one of the few occasions that the totally incompetent referee took any notice of his assistant.
Before we had chance to sit down again after this we were in front as a corner from the left was headed back in by Steve Davis for Arthur to head on for Ian Moore to nod home. Cue mass delirium in the away section although one there was one fan close by who seemed disappointed having backed Fred West to score the first goal.
‘Will we hang on’ could be heard all around but what Burnley were to produce was anything but hanging on. True we had to defend resolutely at times but defend we did when we had to, but only when we had to.
Too often we seem to defend too deep and ignore the opportunities to break out of defence but today we took just about every opportunity. And there is no doubt that we always looked the more likely to score. Walker saved well from Gareth Taylor and Lee Briscoe, whilst the impressive Taylor hit the post.
Much of Burnley’s attacking play involved Robbie Blake, he turned in a second half performance of sheer class as he made runs at the heart of the home defence and also set up so many Burnley attacks with some great passing.
There were one or two hairy moments as Leicester threw everyone forward but we defended everything and defended it well. Four minutes of stoppage time were added on but we saw them through with ease before the final whistle signalled jubilant scenes in the corner.
Who played well and who didn’t? They are easy questions to answer, everyone played well and nobody played badly. We played as a team with great endeavour and commitment and never allowed Leicester time to settle on the ball.
I won’t sit on the fence though and although everyone played well I will give special mention to two players. Arthur Gnohere was simply awesome in defence, nothing was going to get past him. He is a player who is just getting better and better.
And then there is Robbie Blake. Stan told us months ago that he would be a magnificent player for Burnley Football Club. Robbie is now proving that and he turned in his best performance yet in a Burnley shirt.
That is all unfair on the other players though, they were all simply magnificent for the Clarets today and I say Clarets in the truest sense as we quite rightly elected to play in the home kit again.
Just a final mention for the referee Keith Hill. Stan said over three years ago that he wasn’t fit to referee at Football League level. Sadly nothing seems to have changed and this idiot makes a mockery of football refereeing. He didn’t wave his yellow card around quite so much this time but I find it difficult to believe Arthur was booked and a free kick given against him when the assistant close to the incident indicated that Arthur was in fact clearly being fouled.
And I think it is disgraceful that he chooses to yellow card Gerry Taggart for a blatant elbow. Taggart should have been immediately sent off.
But the difficult week has started with a win, a magnificent win too, against the team that started the day in second place. I’m making no predictions, I dared to suggest relegation after Reading (who didn’t?), but we looked a good side today and one that looks as though it desperately wants to win games.
The Leicester fans thought we had done well too and on four seperate occasions after the match I had a Leicester fan come up and shake my hand and tell me that we are the best team they have played this season and offer congratulations for an excellent performance. It's not often you get the opportunity to witness that sort of true sportsmanship.
And regarding the finances at Turf Moor. Following the last two games maybe the board should order Stan to sit in the stand every game and auction off his seat in the dug out. We still win and it makes a bit of money as well.
The teams today were:
Leicester City: Ian Walker, Frank Sinclair, Matt Elliott, Gerry Taggart (Andy Impey 62), Callum Davidson, Jamie Scowcroft, Billy McKinlay, Stefan Oakes, Alan Rogers (Nicky Summerbee 63), Paul Dickov (Trevor Benjamin 79), Brian Deane. Subs not used: Matt Heath, Reeves.
Burnley: Marlon Beresford, Dean West, Ian Cox, Arthur Gnohere, Graham Branch, Glen Little (Paul Weller 85), Steve Davis, Lee Briscoe, Ian Moore (Dimitri Papadopoulos 86), Gareth Taylor, Robbie Blake (Tony Grant 90). Subs not used: Paul Cook, Brad Maylett.
Referee: Keith Hill (Royston).