Clarets fail to Reid the script

A Fine Claret - John McGreal

Clarets began with hospital bound Ian Moore making a start and other than wide man Valois replacing Grantona, it was the same team as had drawn with Ipswich at the weekend.

The game began quietly with the first chance going the way of the Clarets, Duff's weak shot ending a fine four man move.

With both sides confident in defence yet tentative in attack there was little in the way of chances created by either side in what was a rather quiet first half.

Branch was close to getting on the end of a trademark Camara cross on the quarter hour, Hyde after intercepting, hit a rising shot that was never really threatening Steele's goal, the more notable of Clarets forward play in that period.

As the half progressed, Clarets front two of Blake and Moore seemed increasingly isolated with neither Valois or Branch using their wide roles to any penetrative effect, yet Clarets did create the better of the chances by advancing straight at Coventry's defence where Richard Shaw was the main obstacle to breach.

Blake was unfortunate to lose his footing when he'd turned his man in the area, but he must surely be checking his studs on a night when he lost his footing on numerous occasions.

Sinclair was the game’s only booking for an airborne, accidental challenge on twenty five minutes. More significantly, the booking was his fifth and he will now sit out the Aston Villa clash.

Coventry's only attacking moment of the half came on the half hour when the dangerous looking Ricketts, not for the first time, slipped by a casual Duff, his dangerous cross was glanced wide of Coyne, but thankfully Sinclair was on hand to clear up the loose ball in the six yard box and the chance was snuffed out.

Clarets then created their best two chances of the half. Blake's delightful through ball to Chaplow picked out the late run into the box and his chip across Steele beat the 'keeper, only to roll agonisingly wide of the far post as it rolled out of play.

Blake also had a great chance to open the scoring five minutes from the break, when, after latching on to Valois' great pass through Coventry's offside trap, he raced clear of the back line, drew Steele from his goal, only to then delay his shot slightly allowing the 'keeper to make a decent save.

In between, Valois himself had a half chance but his curled left footer was just over the angle, whilst at the other end Coyne was called upon to make an elementary save after Duff had been beaten by Ricketts allowing a shot from the edge of the area.

HT 0-0.

Sour Grapes - empty seats, less than 11,000 there

The threat down Coventry's left materialised, Ricketts slipped by Duff and hit over a hard low cross, converted from close range by Johnson, sending Coventry's immense following of some two coach loads wild with delight.

Their ecstasy was short lived and before you could boil an egg Clarets were level. Whing whipped Blake's legs from under him as he turned in the area, Mr Mathieson saw it correctly and Blake scored his 100th League goal sending Steele the wrong way from the spot, despite the best efforts of Adrian Heath when sending on penalty instructions to his 'keeper.

The two quick goals lifted both the crowd and the game, the tempo clearly higher than it had been previously. Rejuvenated by the goal, Clarets pushed forwards in search of a second, Coventry began to look a little stretched and Blake almost bagged a second when cleverly flicking McGreal's long ball into the area past Steele only for Leacock to clear off the line.

Coventry again took the lead from a very quick counter attack from a Clarets corner. Blake, instead of going for goal, tried an elaborate chip, Shaw intercepted and sent the ball up field, where to their credit Coventry had three against two in a lightning burst up field, sub Barrett finishing in fine style after a good first touch sent him clear of Camara, his shot giving Coyne no hope whatsoever.

With Branch now upfront alongside Blake, Clarets were more able to break past the Coventry rearguard, courtesy of his many headed flick-ons and with the three hundred still on their feet droning away, Clarets again drew level within three minutes.

Hyde's long ball into the area from the halfway line was superbly chested diagonally down by Blake and into the path of an impressive Branch who coolly slotted home past a forlorn Steele and Clarets were level once again before Coventry could engage any more time wasting tactics.

Suffo replaced John, then Roche did likewise for Valois as both sides tried to change things around in a quiet final ten minutes, the only moment in which saw Blake superbly tackled when about to pull the trigger from within the "D".

Draw number nine then was the only real conclusion on a night of some entertainment, but also frustration as Clarets failed to put away decent if not dangerous opposition.

Att: 10,919

Sour Grapes:-

The attendance of under 11,000 was Clarets lowest in the League since the visit of Gillingham in February. Whilst you could point to the pitiful away following as some evidence in the case for the defence and regionally where attendances are in decline, the Clarets were tenth in the League not nineteenth as they were at that time. Decreasing crowds therefore must be a concern for all as Clarets look for increased funds to strengthen an already stretched squad.

A Fine Claret:-

Graham Branch earned MOTM in the stadium and to a degree this was understandable, but my vote goes to the ever impressive John McGreal, who once again never put a foot wrong. His superb reading of the game enabled many assured interceptions and his control of the Clarets back line just gets better and better.