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Tonight’s team must have been one of the youngest (if not the youngest) reserve team ever fielded by Burnley. The 21 year-old Argentinian trialist Elias Bazzi was the old man of the team; and when he failed to reappear after the break all the remaining 15 players were under 20. In effect, it was virtually the youth team that played Preston on Saturday.
The Clarets lined up (in 4-4-2): James Salisbury; Andrew Leeson, Gary Carter, Liam Eves, Elias Bazzi (Danny Pitham 46); Mark Rasmussen (Steven Richardson 76), Joel Pilkington, Andrew Waine (Richard Chaplow 73), Paul Scott; Earl Davis (capt), Matthew O’Neill. Subs not used: Sean Blakey, Ryan Armstrong.
In contrast to Burnley’s inexperience Huddersfield fielded three players with almost 1,000 first team appearances between them: long-serving Simon Baldry and Jon Dyson (both returning from injury), and well-known trialist Kevin Gallacher. Their skill and know-how was to be influential in the match.
From the start Town dominated much of the play; solid in defence and breaking quickly in attack, using their 4-3-3 formation to good effect. Salisbury had already made one good save before Town took the lead after 10 minutes. The ball was played in to the edge of the area from the right for Gallacher to hit a superb shot on the turn into the top corner. Salisbury got a hand to it, but the shot was so powerful it made no difference.
Burnley were struggling to create any real openings, although as the half wore on they were coming more into the game. Their best two chances both were from free-kicks just outside the area, awarded after good approach play by O’Neill and Rasmussen. Both efforts though came to nothing.
Salisbury was called upon to make another good stop just before the break when Town’s Paul Scott hooked in an effort after more good work from Baldry down the wing.
Bazzi was replaced by Danny Pitham at halftime, Eves moving to left-back. The Argentinian had failed to impress in the first 45, being nowhere near the quality of Titus, Alexopoulos and Torres Mestre who were all tried in his position last season, but not taken on.
Burnley tried to increase the tempo at the start of the second period, but again could only create half chances. Pilkington had a shot blocked after an O’Neill mortar raid before the game was effectively decided in the 60th minute. A left wing corner eluded everyone except Gallacher who nipped in to head firmly past Salisbury for 2-0.
With the Huddersfield forwards looking lively the Clarets’ defence was put under increasing pressure. Carter made a superb saving tackle on Senior as he was about to shoot, and Salisbury pulled off the save of the night in the 70th minute from a 15-yard blaster.
The inevitable third arrived in the 76th minute. A right wing cross was eventually deflected into the path of substitute Macari and he bundled the ball home from close range.
The young Clarets will no doubt be disappointed with the result but should not be so with the performance. They will have learned a great deal from this game, in particular Carter and Pitham who all made their débuts at this level. Gary Carter had another excellent game and acquitted himself well against an experienced player with 53 international caps to his name. Salisbury pulled off a number of good saves, and this will have given his confidence a boost.
Next week the Reserves are away at Wolves, the scene of their best performance last season with a 5-2 win. A repeat of that would go down very well indeed.