Another deserved point

Last updated : 13 December 2009 By Paul Coppack
Clarke Carlisle
Clarke Carlisle - Man of the Match
These encounters have seen a tough tackling Stan Ternent side literally kick the wealthy champions off the park to ensure the Clarets Second Division football, Drissa Diallo knocked them out the FA Cup, and most recently Jay Rodriguez scored a last minute stoppage-time winner which proved to be the beginning of the famous Capital Punishment Campaign last season.

Fulham haven't won a game at Burnley since the 1950s, but this looked to change in the opening minutes when Damian Duff, who was taunted as soon as he touched the ball, had the chance to put Cottagers ahead. He found space and beat the Burnley back line and then attempted to chip a stranded Brian Jensen, but he got his angles wrong and his effort went wide much to the pleasure of the 18,000 Clarets fans who continued to jeer the former-Blackburn player throughout the match.

The away team kept plugging with The Beast being called into action with close range shots from Duff and Erik Nevland. Jensen kept Burnley in the game and the small handful of travelling supporters may have felt disappointed not to have gone into the break a couple of goals up.

Burnley's only clear chance in the first half was a Robbie Blake long range effort which was saved by Schwarzer after some good play from Chris Eagles and the ever improving Steven Fletcher. On a positive note, Burnley did get the ball into some very dangerous areas.

So apart from two teams playing some pleasing football, there isn't a great deal to report from the first half.

The second half demonstrated the quality of the two teams, both clubs steeped in history and tradition and with their football displays on the pitch should be both playing in the Premier League next season.

Fulham showed that they were a strong, safe side with a no-nonsense defence and dangerous front line. On the 50th minute Bobby Zamora out-paced Steven Caldwell after a quickly taken free kick from midfield. It was a clinical finish past Jensen.

But Burnley, masterminded by Owen Coyle's "never say die" attitude, made a couple of changes; Robbie Blake and the off-colour Andre Bikey Blake came off and were replaced by the revitalised David Nugent and the emerging Kevin McDonald. Between the two, the home side equalised when Stephen Jordan's cross was headed onto Wade Elliott's right foot via a defender. The 30-year-old was unmarked and expertly volleyed the ball past a helpless Mark Schwarzer. It was a well-taken goal - a move similar Robbie Blake's stunner against Manchester United back in August.

Burnley continued to push forwards, and looked to get all three points with chances from Nugent and Eagles. Fulham had a couple of chances too; with Jensen smothering a Paul Konchesky through ball to deny Zamora a second goal and Clarke Carlisle cleared a chance off the line from a corner.

Coyle threw Fernando Guerrero into the mix before the final whistle to give the young Ecuadorian more Premiership minutes, he is certainly far from the finished article but these small cameo appearances show Burnley fans his potential.

So 1-1 it finished - a result most fans would have taken before the game. It was important to grab something against Fulham because realistically Burnley's undefeated home run could come to an end when Arsene Wenger brings his strongest Arsenal team to Turf Moor on Wednesday (but while Owen Coyle is manager, I feel Burnley can achieve anything at home).

I wouldn't say there were any key individual displays from a Burnley player this weekend, but if I have to pick a Man of the Match, it would be Clarke Carlisle; he was the pick of an improved back four that has been brought into question over the past couple of away matches. The defence (and Brian Jensen) have to be given credit; they were a solid unit other than Fulham's early chances. But overall, it was a better and confident display.

It's another point on the board, another point towards safety, it was a solid performance and a good confidence builder after some disappointing away results. After this type of display against another established top flight team Burnley will hopefully break club tradition and pick up more points over the festive period.