|
Norwich went for the throat from the kick off and the Clarets defence were struggling. We could and should have been one behind after only two minutes, fell behind on four minutes and then saw Fred West get his backside in the way of another effort a minute later that should have been buried. Quite simply we could have been 3-0 down and could have had no complaints.
The goal itself was appalling and reminiscent of two Watford goals a week earlier when yet another defender was allowed to meet a corner unchallenged and head home.
It looked as though we were all set to throw another one in but the game then changed as we started to get forward and in fact we got on top. Everything we did was coming through Robbie Blake who was having another outstanding game and for a period of around 20 minutes the home side hardly got a look in.
The Clarets mounting injury list was added to when Lee Briscoe was stretchered off after what looked a bad challenge from Darren Kenton (it was Kenton who kicked Glen in the head last year) but referee Tomlin took no action against the player. Gordon Armstrong, our only experienced substitute on the day, came on to replace Briscoe for only his third league appearance this season all as a sub.
Kenton was fortunate to get away with that because ten minutes later he was yellow carded for a similar challenge, this time on Paul Weller. He can consider himself very fortunate not to have been sent off.
We did create chances and the best two fell to Gareth Taylor. He scored a hat-trick last week but on this occasion he missed. He put the first one wide at the near post from a right wing cross and then blazed over an unguarded goal after being put clear just six yards out.
It was still Blake teasing Norwich though and he burst clear in the box just a few minutes before half time only to be brought down. Incredibly Tomlin waved play on and there were sighs of relief from the home crowd at that end who knew they had got away with it.
But it was 1-0 down at half time and probably somewhat harsh given the way we had come back at play off chasing Norwich.
The second half started evenly but with just six minutes gone referee Tomlin appeared to even things up a bit. David Healy found himself with an easy chance to make it 2-0 but dallied too long and Nik Michopoulos was able to challenge him and come away with the ball. There’s no doubt in my mind that Nik fouled Healy and it looked to be another bad decision by the referee.
Gordon Armstrong was on the field for less than half and hour before he had to make way and it was for a second debutant in a week. This time it was 18 year-old midfielder Richard Chaplow. Richard’s proud mum and dad were sat directly behind me in the away stand and his dad admitted to being somewhat nervous – although they were not his exact words – as Richard came on to the pitch.
He needn’t have been because the young midfielder did very well. He passed the ball well and certainly wasn’t afraid to work hard and get back and win tackles. Apart from one occasion when he was outdone by Gary Holt down our left he can be delighted with his first appearance in the first team.
His arrival saw Burnley get back on top but then disaster struck as Norwich went two up and not for the first time recently it was down to a goalkeeping error. Nik could only parry a less than powerful shot and he could only parry it straight out to Zema Abbey who had the easiest of chances.
Matt O’Neill almost immediately replaced Dimitri Papadopoulos who had struggled to get into the game and he played down the right hand side.
The game was lost by now but to our credit we kept going, the heads didn’t drop at all, and on a couple of occasions we might have been able to pull a goal back.
At five past three it did look as though we could be throwing one in again but by the end of the game there was some sympathy for the Clarets who could count themselves unfortunate to lose this one by two goals.
Recently the club launched its latest season ticket campaign and entitled it ‘Show your Colours’. You would think that if they are asking the fans to then they might indeed do it themselves. But no, against a Norwich side in yellow and green we failed to show our colours today and did not play in Claret & Blue.
Claret & Blue happen to be our colours and it is just ridiculous that we actually choose not to play in them when there is no reason not to. There was much comment about this and it really is appalling.
Robbie Blake was without doubt my man of the match today but there should also be a special mention for Graham Branch who had another excellent game in the unfamiliar position in the centre of defence.
Referee Tomlin sadly struggled, missed two penalties and needless to say he missed the bad foul when it came.
It’s Portsmouth next, I don’t think they are much of a side, and we can go there with some more confidence from this performance despite the result.
And keep giving the youngsters a chance Stan, they are certainly not letting you down.
The teams today were,
Norwich: Robert Green, Steen Nedegaard, Malky Mackay, Darren Kenton, Adam Drury, Mark Rivers (Iwan Roberts 88), Darel Russell, Gary Holt, Paul McVeigh (Clint Easton 90), David Healy (Ian Henderson 90), Zema Abbey. Subs not used: Paul Crichton, Craig Fleming.
Burnley: Nik Michopoulos, Dean West, Graham Branch, Mark McGregor, Lee Briscoe (Gordon Armstrong 27, Richard Chaplow 54), Dimitri Papadopoulos (Matt O’Neill 65), Paul Weller, Steve Davis, Robbie Blake, Ian Moore, Gareth Taylor. Subs not used: Marlon Beresford, Joel Pilkington.
Referee: Steve Tomlin (Lewes).