Clarets come up against the best

Last updated : 30 August 2009 By Tony Scholes
Brian Jensen
Brian Jensen - outstanding performance
With the wins against Manchester United and Everton in the previous two games there was some confidence that we might get something in this one too, but those hopes were dashed in a seven minute spell either side of half time when Chelsea scored three times, and in truth no one could deny them after they turned in a superb performance against us.

When did a team last play this well against us? That's a good question and one we couldn't answer yesterday, but it is a long, long time ago. This really was a big introduction to Premier League football.

Owen Coyle, not surprisingly, named an unchanged side again for league action whilst the Chelsea team was littered with big name players. You really know you are in the big league when you recognise the opposition players without checking numbers and that was definitely the case here with the likes of Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Drogba and Anelka.

Our team included seven of those who started the Carling Cup tie last November but the scene this time at Stamford Bridge was nothing like that game. This time the Burnley fans were housed in the corner of the ground between the Shed and the oldest stand whereas a year ago we filled both the upper and lower tiers of the Shed.

The pattern for the game was set very early when Andre Bikey failed to deal with a ball from Wade Elliott, allowing Nicolas Anelka to race through. 1-0 we all thought but the big frame of Brian Jensen, a hero in that cup win, was more than equal to it. Not for the first time he timed his move perfectly to deny Anelka with a top one-on-one save.

We had our moments. Chris McCann went on a run before firing over and then in the ninth minute we should have gone in front. Tyrone Mears robbed Frank Lampard and set up Martin Paterson for what will the easiest chance he'll have all season. He managed to screw his shot wide when it looked a simple matter of putting the ball past Petr Cech into the net.

Had we gone 1-0 who knows what might have happened, but for the rest of the first half it was a case of our defence manfully and magnificently dealing with a wave of Chelsea attacks. When they were beaten the brilliant Jensen dealt with everything, including one absolutely stunning save.

Somehow, and probably against all the odds, we got to 45 minutes with the score at 0-0 and then in the last minute of stoppage time disaster struck. A quality ball between Bikey and Stephen Jordan found Didier Drogba down the right and the striker crossed the ball low for Anelka to get there just ahead of Clarke Carlisle and slide the ball home via the post.

We were seconds from going in level at half time. Yes, a 0-0 scoreline would have hardly reflected the first half but nevertheless would have been deserving because of the way we'd defended.

But it was 1-0 and before we'd really got settled into our seats for the second half it was 3-0. Anelka and Lampard linked down the left with the latter crossing for Michael Ballack to head home and just two minutes after that Ashley Cole scored a goal of such quality I'm sure his Mrs would have given it a yes on X Factor.

The game was definitely over for the Clarets and in truth we hardly saw the ball down at the Shed end during a second half when Ancelotti's brilliant side went for more goals. Apart from a Steven Fletcher effort we offered precious little other than to prevent any further damage.

Without ever being as busy as he was in the first half there were more top saves from Jensen who really was in sensational form and probably playing as well as I've ever seen him.

He did finally get it wrong and was beaten by substitute John Obi Mikel, but Mears came to his rescue and got back to clear off the line and that was their last chance of the game.

I think many of us had half expected it could be a difficult afternoon and in all fairness Owen Coyle had warned us it could be just that. At times we didn't do ourselves justice. We didn't play as well as we can. We couldn't keep hold of the ball as well as we know we can and we didn't pass the ball as well as we know we can. It didn't help at all.

But let's not forget the quality of the opposition. Ancelotti himself said it was the best they'd played and my word what a side they looked. This league is going to be tough for us but we won't face a game any tougher than that.

Looking for a man of the match was easy. In truth the overall man of the match had to come from the Chelsea camp. For me Drogba was sensational. But my choice is always with a Claret and there really isn't much of a debate. All four in the defence did so well but it is impossible to look beyond the superb Jensen.

I said after promotion that I was going to enjoy every minute of this season. It's hard to do that when you are 3-0 down with 38 minutes of the game remaining, I don't like to see my team losing.

But I am going to enjoy it, and yesterday it was a privilege watching a team that surely must be favourites to lift the Premier League title. Their pace, their movement, the quality they possessed was something else.

When did a team last play this well against us? It really is a long, long time ago.

The teams were;

Chelsea: Petr Cech, Jose Bosingwa (Juliano Belleti 66), Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack (John Obi Mikel 83), Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Deco, Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba (Salomon Kalou 76). Subs not used: Hilario, Branislav Ivanovic, Florent Malouda, Daniel Sturridge.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander (Kevin McDonald 75), Steven Fletcher, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake (Fernando Guerrero 78), Martin Paterson (Joey Gudjonsson 59). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Christian Kalvenes, Chris Eagles, Steven Thompson.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 40,906.