Ronnie's boys beat one of his old clubs

Last updated : 03 April 2002 By Tony Scholes

Brad Maylett scored first goal
There was no sign of any of the sixteen players on duty at Portsmouth on Monday and Robbie Blake was not included either. The team though was a mix of youth and experience and they picked up maximum points in a 2-0 win.

It is difficult to comment too much on the first half because in truth very little happened and neither goalkeeper was called upon to make anything approaching a save. The Clarets had the upper hand but seemed unable to find any penetration and when we did get the ball into the Huddersfield box the keeper seemed more than able to deal with everything.

It was all square at 0-0 at half time and to be honest it was no real surprise and the start of the second half was showing no real sign of being any different for the first fifteen minutes. Then the Clarets made a substitution replacing Andy Payton with Liam Eves in a move that saw Graham Branch go up front and almost immediately the deadlock was almost broken.

It was at the wrong end though as Huddersfield got through on the left and Luigi Cennamo made a good save and the follow up was hit wide by Chris Senior when it looked easier to score.

Finally midway through the second half the deadlock was broken and what a good goal it was. The architect was Matthew O'Neill playing on the left hand side of midfield. He hit a ball from the left for Brad Maylett to run onto on the right of the box. Maylett got to it as the keeper came chasing out and chipped him superbly to put the Clarets in front.

Eight minutes later it was all over and again O'Neill, who impressed again tonight, this time crossing from the right. For once the visiting keeper misjudged the ball and that allowed Earl Davis to get in and head powerfully home.

At no stage did the Clarets look as though they would let the lead slip and the only occasion Huddersfield threatened to get back into the game was just five minutes from the end. A well struck shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Cennamo who turned it round the post for a corner.

It wasn't the most exciting of games tonight and neither keeper ever had much to do. In the end though it was another comfortable victory.

The next game is a week today and against the same opponents Huddersfield Town. This is at the McAlpine Stadium with a 2:00 p.m. kick off.

I do have one complaint. It is about time teams were made to wear numbers of the backs of the shirts that are visible to the crowd. Huddersfield today had red numbers on a blue and white striped shirt and they were impossible to see.

The teams tonight were,

Burnley: Luigi Cennamo, Mark McGregor, Earl Davis, John Williamson, Graham Branch (Damian Hindle 74), Brad Maylett (Mark Rasmussen 78), Andrew Waine, Lenny Johnrose, Matthew O'Neill, Tony Ellis, Andy Payton (Liam Eves 60). Subs not used: James Salisbury, Andrew Leeson.

Huddersfield Town: Paul Evans, Chris Hay, Thomas Heary, Jon Dyson, Nat Brown, Paul Scott, Paul Macari, Andy Booth, Michael Senior, Chris Senior (Neil Simpson 65), Thomas Jordan. Subs not used: Phil Senior, Adam Fowler, Doni Clarke.

Fixtures and results