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This was known as the ‘Gentlemen’s Rush’ and one old man used to tell me that they always saw the best of the action. Had he been there today there is no doubt he would have been right, to be honest with little over a quarter of an hour left nothing of any real note had happened.
It’s never easy in a game where only one team are too bothered about winning it and that was certainly the case this afternoon as Stoke came with a rigid 4-4-2 system where the midfield acted as an extra defence. Former Claret Andy Cooke and new loan man Tommy Mooney were so isolated up front that I’m not sure they ever saw any of their team mates.
Lenny Johnrose was the surprise inclusion in place of the injured Paul Weller with both Paul Cook and Alan Moore on the bench but it was in midfield where the Clarets struggled and because of this Robbie Blake and Ian Moore (the chosen two) were presented with few opportunities. They seemed to be in a constant battle in trying to win balls in the air against the Stoke defenders, had nobody told the rest of our lads that Gareth Taylor was sat on the bench?
To be fair they worked hard and if anyone was going to score a goal it was Burnley and twice we came close. The first of these saw Robbie Blake hit the post and the second should have been a goal for the ineffective Lee Briscoe but he squandered the chance after a great run and cross from Ian Moore.
Stoke defended in numbers with the midfield four always quick to get behind the ball and we didn’t seem to be able to find the way to break through. Glen Little started like an express train but his afternoon was soon derailed and there were long periods when we didn’t see him.
There were a couple of minor scares at the back but nothing too serious and Arthur and Coxy looked assured. The half time whistle came though and the 0-0 score line was of no surprise.
The Turf Moor crowd had given Andy Cooke a superb welcome before the game and half time was the turn of Vince Overson. As he mid his way to the centre circle to make the half time draw he was warmly greeted from all four sides of the ground. Vince had captained Stoke and had been as popular at the Victoria Ground as he had been at the Turf and the visiting fans were quick to show their appreciation for their former captain.
Whilst all this was going on Stan was, we hoped, sorting things out and when we came out for the second half there were to be two immediate substitutions with Gareth Taylor replacing Robbie Blake and Alan Moore coming onto the left hand side of midfield with Lee Briscoe moving to left back and Mark McGregor coming off.
There seemed to be an immediate improvement as we started the half well but when the goal didn’t come we were soon back into the same pattern that had been seen in the first 45 minutes.
Gareth Taylor hit the post with a header, a good effort too, but that to be honest was about it other than Stan sending on Papadopoulos for Ian Moore. Marlon made a good save from a rare Stoke attack and then Andy Cooke won himself another ovation from the Burnley fans as he was substituted.
It looked odds on a 0-0 draw but then the gate opened for the Gentlemen’s Rush and those taking in the last throws of the game for free must have thought they had missed a classic.
It all started in the most unlikely of ways, Stoke actually threw men forward in an attack and one of their midfielders gave them the lead. They got down the left and the cross was met by Bjarni Gudjonsson who volleyed home with Marlon Beresford looking at fault.
This was going to be a difficult defeat to take but could we get back into it? The answer was a very swift yes. Arthur Gnohere met an Alan Moore corner from the right and headed firmly in within two minutes to pull us level.
Arthur does seem to enjoy scoring goals and his celebrations are something else. This time he charged the full length of the field waving his shirt in the air before holding it up defiantly at the Stoke fans.
Suddenly the atmosphere in the Turf was electric but there was more to come. With just nine minutes left on the clock Glen Little got in a cross and Dimitri Papadopoulos met it with a superb header that gave Cutler no chance.
Dimitri celebrated but Arthur, by now really enjoying himself, joined him for a dance before picking him up and taking him back to the half way line. Within seven minutes we had recovered from the shock of going a goal behind to get ourselves in front and we weren’t going to let it go.
It still wasn’t over and Stoke’s loan man Tommy Mooney was involved in an off the ball incident which, I am told, ended with him stamping on Tony Grant. I didn’t see it but neither did the referee and his assistants. The 4th official did though and in a week that has seen an lbw decision given by a 3rd umpire Mooney was red carded by referee Pugh after advice from his 4th official Graham Salisbury from Preston.
From then on we coasted to the final whistle with Stoke hardly mounting an attack and the win was deserved if for no other reason than we were the only side looking to win it. It was a deserved win though although once again not the best of performances.
The sponsors awarded the Man of the Match to Marlon Beresford but having faulted him on the goal that could have cost us three more home points I have no hesitation on looking elsewhere. For me it was Arthur who handled Andy Cooke’s physical approach comfortably, even found time to grab the equaliser, and then entertained us with his goal celebrations.
I think it is no coincidence that Arthur’s return has seen us win three consecutive games and that is the most important thing of all right now, three consecutive wins in a week.
I’ve considered waiting outside on Tuesday for the Gentlemen’s Rush but knowing my luck all the excitement would then be in the first twenty minutes. So I have decided that as usual I’ll be there from the start.
Twentieth in the league and just a win from half way is suddenly looking a lot better, as long as we can avoid the Daily Mail crisis.
The teams today were:
Burnley: Marlon Beresford, Dean West, Ian Cox, Arthur Gnohere, Mark McGregor (Alan Moore 45), Glen Little, Tony Grant, Lenny Johnrose, Lee Briscoe, Ian Moore (Dimitri Papadopoulos 66), Robbie Blake (Gareth Taylor 45). Subs not used: Nik Michopoulos, Paul Cook.
Stoke City: Neil Cutler, Wayne Thomas, Sergei Shtaniuk, Clive Clarke, James O’Connor, Brynjar Gunnarsson (Peter Hoekstra 86), Bjarni Gudjonnson, Jurgen Vandeurzen (Kris Commons 82), Andy Cooke (Marc Goodfellow 69), Tommy Mooney. Subs not used: Jani Viander, Karl Henry.
Referee: David Pugh (Wirral).