|
Scunthorpe themselves came into the game with just 1 win in 16 games, I was confident of a win after seeing us beat Plymouth and Coventry in the last two games. When the fixture list came out Scunthorpe were two of the games I quickly looked for as ever since Glen Little smashed home the winner at Glanford Park in the year 2000, to get us promoted to the Championship this fixture has always reminded me of that day.
The early signs were good after a successful autograph session in the players' car park.
The game itself took a bit of time to get going on a bumpy pitch; although Burnley looked the better of the two teams with some nice passing but without creating much. Scunthorpe themselves created little with Unsworth and Varga looking solid in the Clarets back line defending the few crosses Scunthorpe produced.
Burnley's first real opening fell to Robbie Blake who after playing a give and go with Wade Elliott managed to turn into some space only to blast the ball just over the bar!
It wasn't too long until Burnley took the lead when Robbie Blake lashed home a low drive into the far corner after the ball was knocked down into his path. 1-0 to Burnley!! It really was a delightful goal from another Burnley striker on form, that goal makes it 3 in 3 for Blake; 8 for the season and minutes later it could well have been two, but Wade Elliott's shot spun wide.
Burnley looked in control with Joey Gudjonsson finding Blake with a great cross-field pass only for Blake to shoot wide.
In the Championship you can never under estimate any team and Scunthorpe almost pulled level when a long ball over the top of David Unsworth was put wide by Martin Paterson, the former Stoke man unable to get it past the Beast who was well out of his goal.
After that scare the Clarets kept up their dominance with first Wade Elliott having a shot blocked and then minutes later a fantastic Blake cross was inches away from being nodded in by Akinbiyi.
Scunthorpe were playing very poorly and even surprised themselves when a long range effort smacked the post, Jensen may or may not have a got a touch, who knows?
That seemed to have woken Burnley up and they made it two nil after a fantastic take and cross by Wade Elliott was headed in by Ade Akinbiyi, although his celebration seem to suggest he had scored it off his shoulder. However he scored and that is the most important thing it was 2-0 to Burnley!!! It was just what Ade had deserved as he was making himself a real nuisance for the United defence.
Robbie Blake almost made it a perfect half late on when his free kick whistled just wide, but a very satisfactory first half by Burnley who looked well on their way to 3 points and 7th place in the league.
The 2nd half however was slightly a disappointing one after the first half. Both sides created little scoring opportunities, the first chance came when Chris McCann for Burnley looked clear only for a heavy touch to break the move down. At the other end Scunthorpe were still as poor with Paul Hayes nearly hitting the corner flag with a shot.
However the Clarets did create some chances, firstly when McCann's lovely back heel set Jon Harley free, his cross was then put wide by Wade Elliott, a shame as it was a lovely flowing move.
McCann himself who was having a very quiet game almost made it 3-0 when it looked certain his header was going in, until Scunthorpe's goal keeper produced the save of the game to tip it round the post.
Robbie Blake was then inches away from his 2nd as a lovely free kick looked like it was in all the way until it just went wide at the last minute.
Garreth O'Connor made a rare return to first team action as he came on for Robbie Blake and minutes later Steve Caldwell replaced Ade Akinbiyi who rightly deserved a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd.
The full time whilst sounded to a huge cheer from the Turf Moor faithful who had seen their side jump to just one point off a play off place.
That's now 3 wins in a row and back to back home wins under Owen Coyle, with players returning from injury and suspensions and hopefully a couple of new players (well we can wish) the Clarets could well make a real play off push!!