Clarets recover from shocking start

Last updated : 07 April 2010 By Tony Scholes
Frédéric Nimani
Frédéric Nimani - got the first with a stunning strike
I'd said earlier that all eyes would be on the Bolton dug out, but there was no sign of Steve Davis tonight and neither was the Bolton manager there. Having said that I did see two suspicious looking people dressed as stewards so you never know.

John 'Zippy' Henry was the man in charge, but given that most Burnley fans wouldn't recognise him it didn't cause any problems.

His side got off to a good start too, but just as was the case on Saturday they got more than a helping hand from those in claret and blue. The first came from a free kick just outside the box. Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver should have dealt with it comfortably but failed to keep it out.

Almost immediately a defensive mix up between the two central defenders Kevin Long and Steven Caldwell so the scoreline doubled. Surely it wasn't going to happen again, but it nearly did but this time Wanderers thankfully missed with another opportunity.

"Never mind," said one Burnley fan, "Kevin McDonald's getting a round in at half time."

Despite this start we started to come into the game and Jay Rodriguez twice came close to pulling a goal back with shots that were deflected wide. Then, with twenty minutes gone, Frenchman Frédéric Nimani stunned everyone with a superb finish.

Played through by captain Joey Gudjonsson he reached the edge of the box before hammering home with the Bolton goalkeeper having no earthly chance of keeping it out. I'd just joked that he provided us with the entertainment value so missing from reserve games since Steve Jones left, and then he did this.

It was all Burnley now and the front two of Rodriguez and Steven Thompson were causing the visiting defenders plenty of problems, and with the clock ticking towards half time Jay was brought down and even this most bizarre of referees could hardly turn down the penalty appeal.

It looked as though Joey was about to take it initially but Jay stepped forward and scored with some ease to take us into half time with the scores level.

Caldwell and Thompson were withdrawn at the interval with Curtis Woods and Wes Fletcher coming on. Woods went to full back with Ben Hoskin moving into the centre of the defence whilst Fletcher was a direct replacement for Thommo up front.

Wes caused them some problems and he was very unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. HE forced two saves from the keeper but with the second he was clearly being held back. This time the referee didn't want to know.

Bolton hit the bar with a long range effort but with our very next attack we went in front. It was Nimani again who caused the problems and when he was fouled it was this time spot kick number two.

Joey did step forward this time and just as we waited for the pile driver he placed it low into the net and Burnley were in front.

Unfortunately the lead didn't last too long when O'Halloran got a third for Bolton. I thought there was a suspicion of offside but Long, who had a difficult night, had played him onside and the goal rightly stood.

There was only one team going to win it after that. Jay hit an absolute stunner from some 40-yards that hummed the bar like a tuning fork before Wes was clearly brought down in the box as he broke through. A third penalty? Not this time but it looked the clearest of the lot.

Adam Kay came on for the last few minutes and almost grabbed the winner only to see his shot pushed round by the Bolton keeper. The corner came to nothing and we had to settle for a point.

It was certainly an enjoyable game and it was good to see a Burnley side come back from a poor start to the game. Next up is Liverpool, and that's a week on Friday at the Turf.

The teams were;

Burnley: Nicky Weaver, Ben Hoskin, Kevin Long, Steven Caldwell (Curtis Woods 45), Jay McEneaney, Alex MacDonald (Adam Kay 85), Joey Gudjonsson, Alex-Ray Harvey, Frédéric Nimani, Steven Thompson (Wes Fletcher 45), Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Danny McDonald, Chris Anderson.

Bolton: Rob Lainton, Joe Riley (Maison McGeechan 45), Adam Blakemen, Rhys Bennett, Andrew Burns, Stuart McDonald, Michael O'Halloran, Sam Sheridan, Jack Sampson (Javlon Campbell 45), Zoltan Harsanyi. Subs not used: Jay Lynch, Oulwasamni Odelusi, Graeme McGregor.