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A wall of noise from the Longside reverberated round the ground. Kick off, an edgy start, the team formation left Paterson up front and midfield was cluttered and looked set up to break up the intricate passing of United. Burnley settled well and did not look overawed, half chances came for both teams, Rooney, Owen, prompted by the graceful Giggs looked threatening and Anderson and Evra seemed to have a lot of the ball down the left.
Fletcher tried the spectacular and volleyed over, Paterson harried and chased, McCann drove forward from midfield. Get to the twenty-minute mark and keep it tight, going to plan, then a cross to the far post from Jordan headed out by Evra.SMASH a first time volley by Robbie, GOAL, 1-0 Burnley, BEDLAM.
Wow, what a strike, past the keeper before he knew it, a Premiership goal. We started keeping the ball better. 'Ole' football, the United onslaught did not come, a long range shot from Rooney was met with a mocking 'You're not Robbie Blake' the massed standing ranks of the away following were quiet. The tackles and battles across the pitch all being won by Burnley, how long could we keep it up? A half chance for Owen, WIDE, the clock counting down towards half time.
Another ball played into Owen outside the box, a slide rule pass Evra in, tackled by Robbie only one inevitable outcome, Penalty. A collective depression engulfed the ground. 'Ah well 1-1 at half time is not so bad.' There were the inevitable arguments, delaying tactics and after what seemed an age. Michael Carrick stepped up, casually stroked it towards the keepers bottom right corner, 1-. . . BEEASST a giant outstretched hand, saved, pushed out and cleared into the stands, the ground erupted once more. Corners and clearances followed. Half time came, disbelievingly, Burnley were one up.
The interval was one of reflection, was this really happening? Are we really one up? Can we hold on? Will United be so casual in the second half? Will they get the 'Hairdryer' treatment? The heat was getting to us all.
United came out first in the second half, a signal of intent and certainly looked less casual than in the first half, again chances came but nothing clear cut. A Rooney shot over, the play was being condensed in our half as we got deeper and deeper, Alexander orchestrating, Bikey and Carlisle throwing themselves at everything. When the ball was cleared forward, Fletcher and Paterson's running was selfless, McCann and Elliott trying to hold the ball and get forward to support.
United kept coming Jensen diving at Giggs feet and saving with his face. Then a brilliant save low down to his left from Park Ji Sung followed by a desperate, brave tackle from Jordan to stop Valencia from converting the rebound. United had used all their three substitutions, Berbatov got through, Jensen saved bravely at his feet. Wondrous, fantasy goalkeeping.
United were in the ascendancy, we could not get out of our own half, they kept passing and moving, all the hallmarks of the great side they are. Yet they also showed us their dark side in keeping with their strip, approaching the referee when decisions go against them, Ferguson pointing at his watch and Rooney was lucky to stay on the pitch, with a petulant tackle and stamp.
The clock was agonisingly slow people around me counting down with 13 minutes left, a shout for handball against Bikey, no chance. Four minutes of injury time, the groan collective, the whistling deafening, a final deep cross Evra at the far post. Goal kick. As the ball sailed through the floodlit late night, the final whistle came.
Wondrous scenes, strangers hugging, cheering, singing, thousands of happy faces, all claret and blue. On the pitch Coyle hugging the Beast, on the giant scoreboard Burnley 1 Manchester United 0. This is what we have missed for such a long time. With a sprinkling of magic Robbie dust, an awesome goalkeeping display and sensational team effort, we can keep on dreaming, Burnley are back and this time it is for real.
