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The Clarets, with Damien Hindle having now left the club, are somewhat short of forwards and this afternoon played a 4-5-1 formation with Matt O’Neill used as the solitary striker. And it was O’Neill who nearly gave the Clarets an early lead but he was stopped by Blades’ defender Robert Page.
But after the Burnley youngster again came close it was the home side who took command with two goals in quick succession. The first from Danny Wood came after an attack down the left and the second was a long range effort from Ian Ross when he picked up a loose ball and hammered it home.
We were looking ragged at this stage and we were just beginning to consider ourselves fortunate to go in only two behind at half time when O’Neill hit home to halve the deficit.
Stan had seen enough from Glen and David May by half time and both were replaced for the second half which followed a similar pattern to the first with the Clarets getting forward in the first few minutes.
But it all came to nothing and two more goals, this time from former Tranmere duo Wayne Allison and Andy Parkinson, saw Sheffield United 4-1 up and only just past the hour mark.
The young Clarets are conceding goals at just about four goals per game and at this stage you wondered just how many we would concede.
But not only did we not concede any more but we did pull two back. Australian trialist Dave Carney set up Matt O’Neill to score his second with a diving header whilst substitute Ryan Townsend set up Carney in stoppage time.
For the second time this season we have now been beaten 4-3 and the draw last week against Bradford City remains our only point.
The teams were,
Sheffield United: Lindley, Mulligan, Roma, Ross (Marrison 68), Whitlow, Page (Robertson 45), Boussatta, Rankine, Allison, Parkinson, Wood. Subs not used: Harper, Sharp, Horwood.
Burnley: Michael Hale, Lee Roche, Mark McGregor, David May (Ryan Townsend 45), Danny Pitham, Marc Pugh, Joel Pilkington, Dave Carney, Tom Ince (Darrel Avery 72), Glen Little (Alex Taylor 45), Matt O’Neill. Subs not used: Ross Preston, Rhys Carpenter.
Reserve team fixtures and results