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Boing-Boing-Baggies can't stop Clarets run
Andy Gray netted twice, although one does look inconclusive, before substitute McCann got on the end of a Michael Duff cross to win it and take us up one more place in the table ahead of Norwich. You would never have bet on that result after the start that looked to have won the points for West Brom in those first few minutes.
When we went to the Hawthorns in November we got off to a very bad start when Jason Koumas scored after five minutes and Nathan Ellington scored after seven minutes to give them a 2-0 lead. Last night was better, it took Koumas until the 6th minute to score and it took Ellington until the 8th.
So up against it right from the off again, but they were poor goals to give away. Yes, Koumas did superbly well with the first one. He picked the ball up on the left touchline around the half way line initially. When he got it back he skipped past Eric Djemba-Djemba and James O'Connor brilliantly but surely that shot should not have beaten Brian Jensen who even got a touch to it. The second from Ellington was a clear handball but he got in front of Wayne Thomas to get to the cross and that made it easier for him.
There was a stunned silence around the Turf, no one could envisaged the same sort of start as we'd had last time against them, and this was the first time we'd conceded two goals in a home game this year. Already people around were predicting a cricket score but that all changed after about a quarter of an hour.
The finger of blame will be directed at goalkeeper Dean Kiely for a poor throw out that was intercepted by Michael Duff, but when Duff hit the ball forward there is no doubt that Andy Gray was offside. No flag, Gray clipped it over the onrushing Kiely and it was 2-1. We were back in the game. And Kiely, that'll teach you to go round kicking Robbie Painter.
West Brom continued to be a threat, or mainly Koumas was, and Jensen redeemed himself with one very good save down to his right which finally went out for a corner just by the flag. It wasn't one way though and Kiely more than once had to be alert to cut out dangerous Burnley attacks.
As half time approached we were in the ascendancy but then came a sickening moment as James O'Connor was involved in a clash with West Brom's Paul McShane that led to the Claret falling to the ground unconscious. Referee Michael Jones was considerably nearer to the action than me and he had no hesitation in going for his red card.
McShane appeared from the stands to be less than willing to go but in fact was showing some concern for the stricken O'Connor. It is clear now, from viewing the television footage, that this was a clash of heads. There was no intent from McShane, he was going for the ball, and any foul committed was by Jonathan Greening who was holding down O'Connor.
More important though is the injured player, and after five minutes he was stretchered off whilst being given oxygen and was replaced by Chris McCann. Thankfully he quickly came round and was taken to Burnley General Hospital where he spent the night.
The half came to an end after 52 minutes with Baggies' boss Tony Mowbray engaging in a conversation with referee Jones whilst one of his backroom staff was having an altercation with Djemba-Djemba.
We needed to start the second half brightly against ten men and that's exactly what we did. Wade Elliott won an early corner down the right and took it himself and hoisted it to the far post. It was won by Thomas, Gray flicked it on and when it dropped West Brom's Koren played it onto Gray and in it went. We'd got ourselves level after less than three minutes.
Wade had played his part in that goal but soon after he should have given us the lead. He got on the end of a Jon Harley cross but his header lacked power and direction and it was an easy save for Kiely. The goalkeeper had more difficulty with a McCann header. This time he made a fantastic save to keep it out when it looked as though we'd gone in front.
Down at the other end they were causing us very little problem, and when Kiely decided to waste some time it became clear they were happy with a point. It was a point they weren't to get. With the clock ticking down Eric played an excellent ball out to Duff on the right hand side. His cross was met by McCann who superbly headed past Kiely into the corner.
That's how it might have looked to some, but in truth the ball came off Chris' shoulder and looped in. Who cares - we were in front and were on our way to another win, and that win was confirmed after three minutes of stoppage time.
Some will say it was fortunate, but to be honest I don't care. Our first goal might have been offside, McShane might have been unfortunate to be sent off and McCann's goal might have come off his shoulder. But why should we care? Just remember the hand ball at Barnsley, the hand ball at Wolves, the foul in the box on Andy Gray only last week. It's about time some of it went our way.
We were two down after eight minutes, but we fought back to win this game and give Sky television yet another five goal treat, the third we've given them this season. Take nothing away from us, this was a performance that had a hell of a lot more positives for us to take forward. There were good performances all over the pitch, and finding a man of the match has been difficult. But Andy Gray's back to his goalscoring best so he gets my vote.
We've had a nightmare run this season, we're out of it now, and although it is too late to achieve anything let's just enjoy the run, the performances. And when did we last score twelve home goals in twenty days?
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Wayne Thomas, Steven Caldwell, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (John Spicer 79), Eric Djemba-Djemba, James O'Connor (Chris McCann 45), Steve Jones, Andy Gray, Ade Akinbiyi (Paul McVeigh 72). Subs not used: Danny Coyne, Graham Coughlan.
West Brom: Dean Kiely, Martin Albrechtsen, Paul McShane, Chris Perry, Paul Robinson, Zoltan Gera, Robert Koren, Jonathan Greening, Jason Koumas, Nathan Ellington (Richard Chaplow 64), Diomansy Kamara (Kevin Phillips 76). Subs not used: Luke Daniels, Jared Hodgkiss, John Hartson.
Referee: Michael Jones (Chester).
Attendance: 12,500.