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But in all that time, over a quarter of a century of Clarets-watching, I have never borne witness to a game like this one. I’ve seen us score five, I’ve seen us concede six … but never in the same game. All that changed at Blundell Park. Superb attacking play and shambolic defending combined to make this one of those once in a generation experiences. It will be some time before we witness another game like this.
Stan Ternent tinkered with the 4-3-3 formation that had been overrun in the first half of the Portsmouth game. Glen Little, for reasons unapparent, was dropped to the subs bench. Paul Weller took his place. And with Ian Cox still suffering from a thigh strain, Mark McGregor was drafted in to fill the hole in the centre of defence, as Steve Davis continued in his midfield general role.
Most Burnley supporters were trying to work out who was playing where as Grimsby began the goal-fest on 3 minutes. It looked like the Clarets defence was doing the same, as Darren Barnard skipped down the left and squared to Steve Kabba eight yards out who finished with a firm drive past Beresford.
"Not again" thought the travelling hordes, already beginning to fear a repetition of last season’s debacle, when the Clarets were three down before half time. The Clarets replied with a Steve Davis free-kick which fizzed over the bar from eighteen yards.
On 20 minutes the increasingly dangerous Steve Kabba on loan from Crystal Palace flashed a left foot effort just wide of goal. It was already clearly evident at this point that Burnley needed some leadership at the back, as the centre-half pairing of McGregor and Gnohere looked tentative to say the least. Still, the Clarets pushed on, and after dragging a shot wide Gareth Taylor put the away side level with a fabulous diving header after good work from Blake and Davis.
Parity was erased within five minutes Steve Livingstone headed home the dangerous Darren Barnard’s centre to restore the Mariner’s advantage. There was no time to catch your breath however, as the Clarets pulled level three minutes later. Robbie Blake fed Lee Briscoe down the left and his centre was controlled by Ian Moore who span and shot through Danny Coyne’s legs.
Most Burnley fans were still grinning form ear to ear as Grimsby kicked off again. Not for long though as Kabba benefited from more shocking defending from King Arthur whose crown was visibly slipping. Just 32 minutes gone and Grimsby led 3-2. Incredible. Yet more was to come even before half time.
On 37 minutes, Terry Cooke sent a daisy cutting cross along Burnley’s six yard box and Stuart Campbell was on hand to double the Mariners’ lead. Things were getting more bizarre by the minute. Ternent was clearly unimpressed by Gnohere’s performance and duly substituted him on 40 minutes for Alan Moore. One result of the subsequent reshuffle was the redeployment of Graham Branch at centre back. Yes. That’s right. Graham Branch. At centre-back. Even thought he had never played there before. Even though Steve Davis was still on the pitch and the defence was crying out for leadership. Welcome to Stan Ternent’s, "World of Strange."
On the stroke of half-time, Burnley pulled one back with a sublime piece of skill from Robbie Blake. Alan Moore headed the ball back across the area, and in one fluid movement Blake brought the ball down with his chest and lashed it past the helpless Coyne.
Supporters of both sides spent the interval getting their breath back and debating whether they should be applauding the attack or lambasting their defence. This was the stuff of legend. And there were still 45 minutes to go.
Having reduced the arrears before the end of the first period, Burnley wasted no time in levelling the game. Just four minutes into the second half, Robbie Blake fed Ian Moore in the box whose turn and cross was converted by Gareth Taylor. Having come back from 4-2 to 4-4, the feeling on the terraces was that the Clarets could show their extra quality and see Grimsby off, particularly as we still had Little and Dimi on the bench.
Bu that was to reckon without the whims of referee Danson. His decision to award the home side a penalty was just the latest in a series of bizarre decisions on the night. How McGregor was supposed to evade a ball which bounced up and hit his hand at pace (particularly with his back to play) is a secret Danson will take to his grave, but the penalty was given. Alan Pouton converted to make it 5-4 Grimsby. Are you keeping up at the back?
The game continued to ebb and flow. Kabba hit our side netting after a mazy run, whilst at the other end a combined effort from first Davis then Taylor was scrambled away. Then on 72 minutes, Grimsby got number 6. Amazingly it came from their first corner of the game, an unmarked Simon Ford heading home from close range. That was surely that. But no, this is Blundell Park where the fun never stops. Little and Papadopoulos were introduced for Ian Moore and Mc Gregor in an attempt to add impetus.
With seven minutes remaining Dimi was sent sprawling in the opposition box. This was at the other end of the pitch, so whether or not this was another of Papa’s amateur dramatic moments I cannot say. Blake was clearly unimpressed with West’s penalty against Portsmouth and showed Fred how it should be done to make it 6-5.
Could the Clarets rescue a point? No. Apart from a last gasp goalmouth scramble during which Burnley could not prod the ball over the line, that was the end of the action. At full time I didn’t know whether to applaud the team off the pitch or boo them. I did neither. I just stood there trying to take in what had been one of the most remarkable Burnley games I had ever seen.
In summing up, whilst the front three excelled, the defence was a shambles throughout. Granted, Arthur had a nightmare, but the lad needs a leader beside him. In the absence of Ian Cox and having already conceded four goals, Davis should have been moved back to defence in place of McGregor, with Grant or Cook filling in for him at centre midfield. That would have stemmed the flow of goals whilst taking nothing away from Burnley’s attacking options, giving us the best of both worlds. As it was the three points were passed up due to tactical inflexibility. If Cox is not fit for the trip to Preston, we need a radical re-think – one which involves Steve Davis and his massive presence and authority back where it belongs. In the heart of Burnley’s defence.