In recent years Burnley have been preparing for a visit to the Isle of Man as the local holidays came to an end with just a few days training under their belts but it is all change now. The players have been back for over two weeks and have now played two games.
There was a first appearance for Michael Duff and an opportunity for trialist Dave Walton who came in for Michael Taylor and Matt O’Neill from the side that started at
Turf Moor wasn’t looking much different although the pitch was decidedly bare in places which has to be a worry just three weeks before the big kick off, and the cover over the players’ tunnel had done a disappearing act.
Jeff Brown was there still trying to get the fans, in just two areas today, into a frenzy before the teams came out and the visiting fans seemed well at home with the sound of Scottish anthem ‘500 Miles’ being played.
Steve Cotterill, along with new coaches Dave Kevan and Mark Yates, made his way round just seconds before kick off to another standing ovation from the home crowd. He wasn’t to get the best of starts though.
There were only three minutes gone when Barry Robson gave Dundee United the lead. Veteran Billy Dodds found him in space down
If that wasn’t bad enough we had to make a substitution shortly afterwards after Ian Moore went down for a second time. This time it was his right ankle after a very poor challenge from Chris Innes.
We can blame
The injury did give the Clarets fans an early chance to see French trialist Cyril Eboki Poh who went up front alongside new skipper Robbie Blake.
We began to get on top and Eboki Poh was playing no small part as he weaved his way through on more than one occasion. His control was excellent.
It was Chappy who nearly forced the equaliser with our best effort but his powerfully struck shot went narrowly wide.
Visiting keeper Tony Bullock made a couple of good saves but added to that with an outstanding save from a John McGreal header with Eboki Poh’s effort on the rebound being cleared off the line.
It was hard to believe that we were behind with the visitors not having threatened at all since taking the lead. And the equaliser finally came from the trusted source – Robbie Blake.
He was fouled outside the box but got up to take the free kick himself and hammered it into the bottom corner which even Bullock had no chance of reaching.
Two minutes later it really should have been 2-1 and Blake played a central part again with a superb ball that put Duff clear down the right wing. His cross/shot found its way to Eboki Poh who hit home from close range.
Incredibly the assistant in front of the Harry Potts Longside flagged for offside, a dreadful decision with the
Predictably in the next attack Dundee United regained the lead when James Grady deflected a Mark Wilson free kick past Jensen when we should have still been celebrating the lead.
It seemed to knock us out of our stride for a time and we went in at the interval 2-1 down although it hardly reflected the first forty-five minutes.
There was almost a major shock early in the second half, a goal from Tony Grant who moved onto a ball in from Blake. But that man Bullock denied him coming out quickly and getting down to claim the ball.
Eboki Poh came off on the hour and received warm applause from the Bob Lord Stand – there’s no doubt that he has quick feet and made an impact on the game. We reshuffled with Matt O’Neill coming on and playing down the left.
We weren’t having too much defending to do at the Cricket Field End and the only real activity at that end of the ground involved Jobsworth and his team of stewards. The Arabs decided to conga but of course that isn’t allowed at
Dave Walton was replaced by Lionel Djebi Zadi but the action was at the other end. Richard Chaplow hit an absolute beauty from distance. It had power and swerved considerably but Bullock, without doubt their star performer on the day, made a stunning save.
He then rescued his side again as Blake produced a bit of magic to get himself in on goal and blocked the shot well.
As the final whistle approached we brought on some of the youngsters and the final whistle signalled a 2-1 defeat.
A superb goalkeeping performance by the visiting goalkeeper and a dreadful decision costing us a goal – we can stop that right away and thankfully it was only in a friendly.
Interest from the fans was of course directed at the new boys and you couldn’t fail to be impressed with either John McGreal or Michael Duff. Duff, playing full back for most of the game, defended well and got forward well in support of the attack. He’s quick and looks a very good passer of the ball.
Dave Walton did well and certainly won a lot of the ball in the air whilst the crowd were chanting ‘Sign him on’ at Cyril Eboki Poh as he was substituted. Lionel Djebi Zadi was a second half substitute and looked comfortable enough but was not put under any pressure.
Captain Blake won the man of the match award and it is difficult to argue with that.
Results don’t matter we are always told with pre-season friendlies – but only after a defeat. And this was a defeat and was therefore disappointing. Worse though was the injury to Ian Moore, he left at half time with an ice pack on his right ankle. With our numbers we really cannot afford players to be out with injury.
But overall it was an enjoyable afternoon and there were certainly plenty of positives for the home fans.
The teams were:
Burnley
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancs).
Attendance: 4,167.