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Suspensions and injuries forced Stan Ternent into a number of changes for the game. With Tony Grant serving his suspension, Paul Cook was drafted in to the centre of midfield. He was also given the captain’s armband, as Steve Davis was sidelined by a groin strain. Mark McGregor filled in for The Skip. A calf injury meant the Clarets were also robbed of Glen Little’s services, meaning Burnley started with a 4-3-3 formation, with Ian Moore being recalled to the first eleven.
It was evident from the off what Rotherham’s tactic was – knock it long, in the direction of Alan Lee’s head. It was a tactic used without subtlety or variation throughout the course of the match. All that McGregor and Gnohere were required to do was head the ball away all afternoon. They could have virtually played without football boots, so rarely was the ball played into feet by the home side.
There was an early blow for the Clarets when Gareth Taylor had to be strechered off inside the first minute following an aerial collision which left him mildly concussed. Bizzarely, with Taylor struggling to come to, referee Hall booked him. Since when getting yourself knocked out has been a bookable offence, I know not, but Mr. Hall clearly knew best and Taylor was the first of many of the visitors to get their names in his little black book. Taylor was replaced with Brad Maylett, as Burnley reverted to a 4-4-2.
Any football that was played came courtesy of Burnley, and in particular Robbie Blake. On 10 minutes it was he who fed Ian Moore down the right hand channel, but Moore Junior was unable to upset his dad, firing his shot just wide of Pollitt’s right hand post.
Seven minutes later the hugely unimpressive Alan Lee (how did Ternent con the Millers into paying £150,000 for him?), nodded the ball back across goal for strike partner Ritchie Barker but his effort sailed harmlessly over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.
The remainder of the opening period rapidly deteriorated into a midfield skirmish with referee Hall handing out numerous yellow cards. It’s possible that he was just trying to keep himself entertained, as there was nothing happening on the pitch to occupy his attention. In fact the loudest cheer of the half came when a visibly dazed Taylor was led off to hospital in front of the Burnley supporters. To a man, all 2,000 travellers gave Taylor a standing ovation. He may get stick from certain quarters, but the show of support for him today served to underline that he is all but won over most of his detractors.
On 36 minutes, Dean West failed to clear his lines properly, but Marvin Bryan’s resultant shot was saved by Beresford. Sixty seconds later, Alan Lee shot goalwards, but Arthur was in the right place at the right time and the ball deflected harmlessly away. The half closed with McGregor heading over the bar from a Paul Weller corner – Burnley’s only corner kick of the game.
As the rain continued to fall, most Burnley supporters opted to remain in the Railway End sheltering under the roof. The cover was the only aspect of the stand worth commending. There were no lights, the wind howled incessantly through the stand, and the PA was broken. The Health and Safety Executive would have a field day. That having been said, such conditions do make you appreciate what we have at Turf Moor.
Burnley began the second half with more of a spring in their step, with Blake the chief threat. On 50 minutes, Blake broke down the right and fired a shot goalwards. The shot was deflected and Pollitt made a one-handed save. Both the goal and Weller gaped as the shot fizzed away to safety.
After 57 minutes, Blake was at it again. Having taken on and beaten a couple of Millers, Blake fired a low cross in from the right. Lee Briscoe slid in and got a foot to it, but could only find the far post, and the ball rebounded away to safety.
We weren’t to know at the time, but that was just about as much as we would see of Burnley as an attacking force – not that Rotherham laid siege to our goal. In fact there were only two more incidents worth noting in the entire half. The first came on 74 minutes, when Marlon Beresford got down low to his right to save a Nick Daws free-kick. The second came five minutes from time, when Martin McIntosh had a close range shot deflected over the crossbar.
After two minutes added time, referee Hall brought proceedings to an end. Which to be frank was the highlight of the day by some distance. This was a truly dreadful spectacle. But at least it’s over and done with for another season.