|
The Blades moved into second place courtesy of a 2-1 win at Oldham, which even they described as fortunate. The Latics dominated the game but found ex-NAC Breda goalie Wilko de Vogt and the woodwork both in fine form. Colin Cryan and Laurens Ten Heuvel were on target, with youth team striker Scott Vernon replying for Athletic.
Oldham had staged the only league game the previous week, a 3-1 victory over Bury. Scott Vernon scored again with teenage forward Lourenço, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, and Frenchman Julien Baudet getting the others in an easy win. Gareth Seddon added to his two against the Clarets with Bury’s consolation.
Barnsley celebrated going into administration by moving up to third with a 2-1 home win over an inexperienced Wolves side. Steve Hayward and Lee Crooks were on target, with Lewis Gobern replying for the visitors.
In the final game Preston beat struggling Rotherham 1-0 to ensure that the Millers still keep us off the bottom. John Bailey scored the only goal in a "workmanlike" (ie boring) performance in which Joe O’Neill (Knocker’s older brother) excelled. The Lilywhites had their summer signing from KKMC, Tyrone Mears, making his injury-delayed début.
As for the Clarets? Well, another blank week, as will be the case next week too, as the second of the group games in the cup (which once again we failed to enter) take place. In fact, we’re in the middle of a five-week period with only one reserve game. Yet last Saturday Stan was bemoaning the fact that Nico couldn’t get any match practice as there are no reserve games, adding mysteriously "they wouldn’t be a lot of good for him anyway".
So what about the likes of Andrew Leeson, Andrew Waine and Earl Davis, too old now for the youth team but not considered good enough for a place in the first team squad in spite of a series of fine performances at reserve level?
No matter how much they may claim to enjoy training, footballers really only want to play competitive football matches. Reserve team Supremo Ronnie Jepson may now be about to find that his motivational skills, off not on the pitch, are going to be put to their sternest test.
Avon Insurance Premier Division League Table
Burnley's Fixtures and Results