A sad tale of three stooges

Last updated : 21 February 2005 By David Clark
A fine Claret - Gary Cahill
The streaker, the brawler and the crap footballer all tried for their moments of glory and coupled with a coin thrown in the first half from the visitors section at Jean Louis Valois, the repercussions from this game may cost the Clarets dearly.

Whilst there may be some humour at the nude break dancer's antics and the laughable half time striker missing an open goal, there is no getting away from the potential threat offered by each, particularly in light of the amount of fluorescent jackets there to maintain stadium safety and security. It will be sad to see this game remembered for the wrong reasons in the coming days and weeks, as the FA look to investigate a weekend of poor crowd behaviour at prominent fixtures.

On to what was an enthralling game, one with not too much in the way of goalkeeping incident, but none the less packed with energy, passion and commitment and one that the watching BBC pundits could not dismiss as an overrated derby.

This was a game played out in front of two sets of vociferous fans, most electing to stand throughout and adding to the special atmosphere of these fixtures. With eighty coach loads of Rovers fans dropped off, they managed to sell out this time, the ground was full on all sides, the sky populated by low flying planes drawing their banners across the ground and a good crisp afternoon began with both sides trying to tempt the other from defensive looking positions.

The Clarets started ready for a physical encounter, Steve Cotterill picking his strongest eleven in terms of the expected battle, with Oster and Branch getting tracksuit slots. Rovers made their intentions clear from the kick off and whenever possible looked to pressurise Clarets left hand flank as a point of supposed weakness.

A quiet opening ended on the quarter hour when Savage's free kick was nodded over the bar as Pedersen beat an otherwise solid Jensen to the lofted ball. Clarets responded and McGreal's crafty drag back ended just wide of Friedel's left hand post as Clarets tried to find an opening from a well worked corner.

Valois tried his luck from range, but the diagonal effort was always rising and after weathering Rovers upper hand in possession terms, by the half hour mark Clarets were on even terms, their tackling increasing in ferocity, with Sinclair in well on Dickov and Grant winding up Savage with a well timed, firm challenge, much to the dislike of Wales' no1 whinger.

A Clarets corner was held up whilst a florin, thrown from the visitors section was handed to the officials for safe keeping, the missile thankfully missing Jean Louis Valois, its intended target.

Hyde was booked as half time approached, a late tackle harshly punished. Jensen's save from Pedersen's resulting curled shot over a poorly organised wall was a great save, the Beast needing a firm left hand to palm away the goal bound shot.

Moore was unceremoniously upended by Todd, who will now miss the replay courtesy of this his fifth booking, before Sinclair was forced from the game after his right hamstring tightened, the Clarets playing on with ten men whilst the severity of the injury was examined. The two minutes of injury time saw Dickov's overhead kick float harmlessly over the ball, whilst Clarets sent Oster on to balance the numbers, Sinclair having needed assistance to get to the dressing rooms.

HT 0-0 and thanks to Accrington Stanley for their low flying plane reminding everyone that they are indeed the pride of Lancashire!

Sour grapes - the idiots on the pitch
Clarets began the second half brightly, Valois and Oster operating down opposite flanks and carrying the main threat to Rovers as the game continued its frantic course.

Mike Dean saw fit to penalise Camara for a foul on Emerton, the Rover claiming the offence was in the area. Whilst this was denied, the ball was placed inches outside the box and Jensen needed strong hands to beat away the free kick, a cue for the nude break-dancer to enter proceedings before eventually being led away with a strategically placed helmet over his tackle.

A quickly taken goal kick from Friedel created Rovers best chance of the game and McGreal strained every sinew in denying Dickov as the little Scot nicked the ball past Jensen, all three coming together as a result of the challenge, McGreal and Dickov needing lengthy treatment with neither finishing the game.

The incident re-energised the crowd and the atmosphere reached its peak with all sides of the ground in fine voice. Johnson replaced a limping Dickov with twenty minutes remaining and five minutes later Roche replaced McGreal with Duff moving to partner the superb Cahill at the centre of a reorganised back four.

The reshuffle favoured Rovers and Pedersen's goal bound header at the back post cannoned back off Roche as Clarets held firm in the face of a period of pressure before Gallagher was replaced by Thompson with ten minutes remaining.

Camara, showing neat footwork, beat two men on the touchline in characteristic fashion and after entering the area his low drive across the face of goal was well held by an alert Friedel. Moore made way for Branch as Clarets looked to maintain their high tempo as Rovers tired in the closing minutes of the game.

Pedersen was rightly booked for diving, falsely claiming a penalty and Savage followed him moments later for a petulant challenge on Roche. Five minutes of injury time followed, but the head of steam built up by the Clarets during the closing stages of the game was wasted by the entrance to the pitch of one plonker from the home stands, who saw fit to challenge various Rovers players.

After a team shout of "yours" by the watching stewards, eventually the plonker was grounded by a posse of policemen and the game could now make headline news for wrong reasons.

Camara was the games fifth and final booking, his offence was a Roy Keane-esque barrage to a linesman accused of waving his flag in the wrong direction, his commitment typifying a match which whilst lacking on target shots, lacked little in the way of blood, guts and thunder of good derby games.

FT 0-0.

Att: 21,463.

Sour grapes
Why oh why do people have to run on the pitch and spoil a great day. Whether it be Birmingham v Villa or this today, yes derbies are heated events but not for hot heads. Here's hoping the punishments given to today's three idiots match the severity of the punishment that will undoubtedly be given the club.

A fine Claret
Gray Cahill. He just gets better and better and seemingly there is little that phases the cool headed nineteen year old. Another composed display in a frenetic game, can't think of a mistake, or misjudgement he made all day. Sign him on please.