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Once again, the winner came in the last minute with substitute Robert Grimes rifling in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area. Another fine strike, this time from Mark Rasmussen had given the Clarets the lead, but shortly after half time Wigan deservedly equalised with a powerful header from a freekick.
There were two surprises in the Burnley line-up. Welsh schoolboy international Rhys Carpenter was making his first appearance after a long spell out with a back injury. It had been feared that he could be out until Christmas, so this was good news indeed. Secondly, where was Matthew O’Neill? No reports of any injury after his fine performance on Wednesday in the reserves, so could it possibly be that he had actually travelled to Derby?
Burnley lined up in 4-4-2: James Salisbury: Danny Pitham, Gary Carter, Liam Eves, Paul Scott; Stephen Richardson (Marc Pugh 67), Joel Pilkington, Sean Blakey (Damien Hindle 57), Mark Rasmussen; Rhys Carpenter (Robert Grimes 60), Richard Chaplow.
Wigan, coached by David Lee, the scourge of Burnley defences over the years, started brightly and dominated the opening exchanges playing quick, fluent football. They were also helped by the fact that the pitch sloped noticeably from top right down to bottom left, and they were playing downhill!
Salisbury was forced into a good, early save from a direct freekick from the left back, Baines. The young Latic produced several similar efforts during the game and was a constant threat.
However, against the run of play, and with their first effort on goal, the Clarets took the lead in the 15th minute. Rasmussen, receiving the ball some thirty yards out, decided to go for it. He beat two players and unleashed a twenty-yarder which seemed to go under the diving goalie. A fine strike, but perhaps the keeper should have done better.
This didn’t alter the balance of play though as Wigan continued to pour forward. Baines twice more tested Salisbury with long-range efforts, and the defence was struggling to cope with the Latics’ forwards, whose quick, diagonal runs were causing problems. Burnley’s front two were seeing little of the ball as the Clarets’ normally reliable passing game was falling to pieces.
Right on halftime Wigan should have scored, but with only Salty to beat the shot was pulled well wide.
Now the Clarets had the slope in their favour. Unfortunately, little changed. After 49 minutes the inevitable happened, and the Latic culprit of a few minutes earlier made up for his blunder by heading firmly (and unchallenged) past Salisbury from yet another Baines freekick.
1-1, and could the Clarets hold out? The Burnley following in the attendance of 40 began to wear worried expressions (although this was partly due to the rapidly approaching black clouds which were soon to deposit their load on Christopher Park).
The defence somehow survived two goalmouth scrambles and Rasmussen headed off the line from a corner before, following a series of substitutions, the Clarets gradually began to weather the storm (on the pitch, that is!). Grimes and Hindle were the new front two, and their speed began to disturb the Latics’ defence for the first time. With Chaplow dropping back into midfield, Burnley began to create some good moves. 15 year-old Mark Pugh was showing some neat touches on the right, and at last the pressure was off.
Wigan’s goalie redeemed himself after 80 minutes when he saved well after a good, flowing move, and a Pilkington header went close. However, the Wigan forwards were still a handful and a stranded Salisbury was relieved to see a lob come back off a post.
But even though they had not been at their best, the Clarets kept going to the end. In the last minute of normal time, Grimes received the ball twenty-five yards out, created space for himself, and powered a fine shot into the bottom corner for 2-1.
So a somewhat fortuitous win, but for many of the team this was their third game in eight days. At least there is no midweek reserve game coming up, so the youngsters can take a well-earned rest.
Terry Pashley must be pleased with their efforts. The coach will have also been delighted with the performances of his three strikers, Hindle, Carpenter and Grimes, all returning from injury. Robert’s goal was particularly pleasing, as he had missed virtually all last season with a broken ankle.
The second game of the group stage is next Saturday at Blackpool’s Squires Gate ground. A victory there would virtually ensure qualification for the Clarets as the Seasiders were beaten 2-1 by Preston this morning. It promises to be a cracker!