Chaplow scores as Clarets are held

Last updated : 01 November 2003 By Tony Scholes

Chaplow opened the scoring after seven minutes of the second half when he turned in a Glen Little cross from the right. It really should have been enough to see the Clarets through to victory but a Graham Branch howler gifted Cardiff an equaliser and that meant we had to settle for a point for the third successive match.

There were no surprises in the team line up this afternoon, as predicted it was identical to the team that started the game at Wolves but there was a shock on the bench with Luke Chadwick, out for weeks according to Stan and Sam, taking up one of the five places. Yes five, believe it or not we had five subs.

Glen was back in action on the Turf for the first time since the end of August. His last league appearance for the Clarets was the 1-0 home victory against Crewe on the 30th. He was soon into the action as the Clarets took the game to Cardiff and were very much on top in the opening exchanges.

We were pressing forwards but the nearest we came to taking the lead was via a couple of long range efforts from Chaplow and Robbie Blake that both went narrowly wide. Cardiff did look somewhat shaky at the back and we were taking control in midfield.

But unable to get a goal we nearly went one down when a dreadful mistake by Brian Jensen allowed Gavin Gordon to get a header in but it thankfully just about cleared the bar. The keeper was having one of his nervous afternoons and this followed a couple of less than perfect punches at balls that could so easily have been caught.

Cardiff attacks were not common though and when they did get forward the dangerous Robert Earnshaw was well marshalled by Arthur who was again in impressive form at the back.

More Burnley attacks came to nothing as the final ball seemed to elude us and things could have been worse when Graham Kavanagh almost gave Cardiff the lead just before half time from a free kick.

It was saved by Jensen as he turned it onto his post although he did make it look more difficult than it was.

We should have been in front though but Chappy put all that right when he turned in Glen’s cross. Maybe he didn’t hit the ball cleanly but who cares it was no more than we deserved.

A second goal would surely have ensured the points were ours but it wouldn’t come, partly because of poor play and partly Cardiff were having some good fortune. The visitors were beginning to look a beaten team, although they did force Jensen into one good save, and I cannot believe they would have ever have got back into the game but for Branch’s awful mistake.

He inexplicably gave the ball away when under no pressure whatsoever. It was collected by Kavanagh who set up Earnshaw for a tremendous finish. The Burnley captain looked distraught and Arthur was the first to him to commiserate. My commiserations though were reserved for Arthur who didn’t deserve to see Earnshaw’s name on the scorers list.

Stan made a couple of substitutions replacing Blake and Little with Chadwick and Gareth Farrelly but a second goal never looked like coming and we had to settle for a point in a game we really should have won.

So who played well for Burnley?

In recent weeks I have had some criticism for heaping praise on the young Chaplow and certainly after what I thought was a magnificent performance at West Ham I was accused of going over the top.

That being the case I can expect more criticism because for me today he stood out as our Man of the Match by a mile. He did just about everything you could ask of a midfielder and if he continues with this sort of form there is just no way he can be left out of the side no matter which other midfielders are fit.

The goal should have been the icing on his cake today, a goal that won us all three points. Maybe he shouldn’t be playing quite so well for us, if he carries on like this he won’t be a Claret for anywhere near long enough.

Alongside him I would also like to single Arthur out. Often the target from Stan when he plays below the standards he sets himself he again played well today against the division’s top scorer.

I didn’t think Cardiff were up to much and this was the sort of match that we really need to be winning and today was definitely two points dropped. We’ll just have to go to Bramall Lane and get some points next week.

The teams were,

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Dean West, Graham Branch, Arthur Gnohere, Mo Camara, Glen Little (Gareth Farrelly 83), Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake (Luke Chadwick 78), Delroy Facey. Subs not used: Lee Roche, Joel Pilkington, Matt O’Neill.

Cardiff: Neil Alexander, Spencer Prior (James Collins 90), Danny Gabbidon, Chris Barker, Tony Vidmar, Graham Kavanagh, Mark Bonner, Willie Boland (Julian Gray 72), John Robinson, Gavin Gordon, Robert Earnshaw. Subs not used: Martyn Margetson, Andy Campbell, Stuart Fleetwood.

Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham).