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Why the increase? Well, clearly Jeff Lee’s team are producing some attractive, exciting football as we saw at Turf Moor last week. The presence of Kevin Gallacher will also have helped; indeed, so pleased was manager Mick Wadsworth with his performance in the two reserve games that he has offered the former Blackburn and Newcastle star a weekly contract. Gallacher is also having trials with Motherwell, but as his family still lives in the Blackburn area Town are hopeful that he will sign.
One further factor that proved successful in boosting the attendance is the introduction of a "social night". For an additional £2 fans can have a halftime meal whilst enjoying a question and answer session with current players in the executive area in the main stand, with bar provided.
Our next opponents, Sheffield United, followed up their hard-fought draw with Tranmere with a 3-0 defeat of Walsall at Chesterfield’s home, Saltergate. Gavin Smith scored twice, with Mr Karen Brady getting the other in a one-sided game. The Blades have abandoned Bramall Lane this season, and with a 2 o’clock kick off it’s no wonder that attendances are no longer reported.
Oldham were the odd team in eleven to sit out last week, but they more than made up for it with a 2-0 away win at Rotherham’s new home, the Don Valley Stadium. The Portuguese U-21 international Lourenço and Wayne Andrews were the scorers in what coach David Cross described as the best performance during his time in charge. This was the Millers second successive "home" defeat since abandoning Millmoor.
Barnsley moved into 5th spot with a 4-1 trouncing of Bury. Spare no sympathy for the Shakers for here is yet another team to abandon its traditional home. This season Bury’s reserve games are to played at Radcliffe Borough’s Stainton Park, kick off 2pm (Clarets completists please make note in diary for September 18th). Do not expect attendances to break into double figures. This has nothing to do with Manchester United reserve games taking precedence; this season they will be at Altrincham not Gigg Lane. Perhaps Bury were charging too much?
Our fine win at Wolves has been covered elsewhere, but not the revelation from Cousin Michael Branch who pleaded next day to "end my hell at Molineux". He wants away, the manager won’t speak to him, and he and four other squad players have to train on their own, isolated from the rest of the team.
Now where have we heard that before?
Next week’s fixtures:
Tuesday, September 3rd:
Oldham Athletic v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Wednesday, September 4th:
Burnley v Sheffield United (7pm)
Preston North End v Wolverhampton Wanderers (7pm)
Tranmere Rovers v Bury (7pm)
Walsall v Rotherham United (2pm)
Leading Goalscorers:
Kevin Gallacher (Huddersfield Town) 3
Richie Barker (Rotherham United) 2
Gavin Smith (Sheffield United) 2
Paul Macari (Huddersfield Town) 2
Top Reported Attendances:
Walsall v Wolves (21.08.02) 720
Huddersfield Town v Preston North End (28.08.02) 594
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (21.08.02) 496
Wolves v Burnley (28.08.02) 325
Avon Insuarance Premier Division League Table
Burnley's Fixtures and Results