We finally made it to Vöcklebruck
Last updated : 01 August 2004 By Tony Scholes
 | The two teams greet each other before kick off |
|
It was scheduled for Gmunden and then Ebensee but supporters were finally directed to Vöcklebruck. Thankfully in a world of message boards (thanks to Darren Bentley from the LET), mobile phones and text messages there was no need for the more traditional yodelling to get the message to the supporters out there.
Some did make it to Gmunden and some to Ebensee but thankfully all of them in time to make their way to the correct venue even though it was just before kick off for some of them.
Was it a surprise that the Burnley fans found a town centre bar for a short time before kick off – estimated at around three hours – before making their way to the Voralpenstadion just before kick off.
This particular venue has its own Jeff Brown and the players were given a fantastic welcome as he gave the game the big build up.
“A new signing from Chelsea,” he announced as we all waited with baited breath wondering if Kezman had signed on loan. “It’s Frank Sinclair,” he revealed. “And all the way from Wolves – Mo Camara,” followed.
Pieced together we suddenly realised there was no Robbie Blake and with Ian Moore also still nursing an injury it was Graham Branch up front on his own in a 4-5-1 formation.
We started brightly and pushed Burghausen onto the back foot almost from kick off and it came as no surprise when we went in from after just fourteen minutes, and it came from the lone striker Branch albeit with a little bit of help from goalkeeper Uwe Gospodarek.
Branchy got his head to a Mo Camara cross but the keeper appeared to have the ball but it squirmed from his grasp.
On came the goal music although it must have been some old gramophone record that was somewhat crackly. It was suggested by some that they were playing ‘Ve Vill Valk Fünf Hundred Miles”.
Two minutes later and the over officious, somewhat biased, and highly incompetent referee was in the action demonstratively waving his yellow card at our latest signing Frank Sinclair (this one via Leicester).
We believe the referee was in fact the top homer in Europe Herr Kevin Lynch.
Branchy was taking centre stage and should have made it 2-0 but his header bounced over and then he rattled the bar as the Clarets looked much the better side.
Richard Chaplow got in on the act with a fierce shot as did Micah Hyde but the first half came to an end with the Clarets leading by that solitary goal and the inability to find a second ultimately cost us victory.
Wacker Burghausen came back at us after the interval and Brian Jensen, now in goal after replacing Danny Coyne at half time had to be alert on a couple of occasions to prevent an equaliser.
But he could do nothing ten minutes into the second half after a mistake from Camara allowed Geißler in to bring the German side level.
The Clarets certainly found it tougher in the second half and could have lost it with just a few minutes remaining.
Jensen was alert to the danger and Herr Lynch brought things to an end with the scores level at 1-1.
Overall it was encouraging and certainly the defensive unit is looking somewhat stronger. The major problem was the lack of players available with Steve Cotterill not risking any player not fully fit and that meant he was unable to make changes as we tired in the second half.
The teams were,
SV Wacker Burghausen: Gosopdarek, N Herzig, Schmidt, Vukovic (Katior 76), Rosin (Hertl 58), Reißinger, Popovic (Younga 58), Forkel, Everaldo, Jesus Jnr (Wiesinger 58), Geißler.
Burnley: Danny Coyne (Brian Jensen 45), Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Lee Roche, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Micah Hyde, Matt O’Neill, Graham Branch. Sub not used: Mark Yates.
Referee: Herr Kevin Lynch.