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The Clarets will aim to string two home wins together for the first time this season, whilst Walsall will be hoping to move themselves away from the pack forming at the bottom and themselves look to continue a streak of their own - having beaten Preston and Gillingham in the week just gone.
Burnley could well be in for some trouble in terms of numbers with a host of players uncertain to feature. May has a hamstring strain, Chadwick a groin strain, Grant will more than likely miss out with his foot injury and Alan Moore still AWOL. One slice of good news is that Farrelly is almost a definite starter, having shrugged off his knee injury from last week.
Thank you for joining me this afternoon. Please scroll down for the teams, which will include substitutions, goals and cards and of course the text commentary. I'll do my best for the half-time scores, you'll find these at the bottom of the page.
Pre-Match Notes:
Turns out Farrelly is unavailable and May is also missing - replaced by Chaplow and Branch
3 Subs...a new low (how embarrassing)
Farrelly actually has the flu.
Ian Moore plays 300th league game - 127th for Clarets
Text Commentary:
First Half
Walsall kick off - towards the Bob Lord end.
1' Leitao swings in a ball, but just evades O'Neil, Clarets get away with it.
2' Clarets attack comes to and end, Walker comes out well to deal with a Chadwick through ball.
2' Walsall win a free kick just outside the area, Samways will look to take it. Will swing it in left footed, easy catch for Jensen. Who bowls it out a little too quickly for Chadwick who loses out...all danger averted.
3' GOAAAAAAL!!! DELROY FACEY!!! Hit low and hard into the bottom corner, good work from Dean West and Robbie Blake, West's drive across the box and Facey tucks it away. What better way to start!
5' Clarets come forward through West, who looks to be getting forward a bit already, comes to nothing.
6' Facey comes surging forward on a run but just out-muscled - his confidence is sky high now.
6' Chadwick wins a ball and gets forward, but it comes to nothing.
8' Camara wins the ball and gets on a trademark run down the left and swings in a ball but there's been an infringement in the box and a free-kick to Walsall.
9' Good work from Ian Moore who won a throw, sent it to Blake into the box for Chaplow who couldn't quite take it, a chance nevertheless.
10' Chance for Burnley as the 'keeper comes out to head it, but it didn't fall for the Clarets. Notably, the grass is quite greasy this afternoon.
12' Todd finds Chadwick, who sends it forward over the top for Ian Moore but it's too long and goes out for a Walsall goal kick. An innovative move from Burnley.
13' Again Jensen bowls the ball out too quickly, and West has pressure applied to him and has to send it back to Jensen.
14' Chadwick nips inside looked to be fouled but the Free-kick wasn't given. Sent forward by the 'keeper and Leitao caught offside. Aranalde appears to be slow, says Phil Bird.
15' Weller might have a problem in the middle, a knock perhaps.
16' West! Oh he rifled a shot...absolutely smashed it, and the 'keeper possibly made a save, or did the ball hit him? Oh well we won't know...whatever it was it smacked into the crossbar.
17' Great work from Chadwick and West again, they seem to be on fire - Chadwicks ball found Ian Moore who turned and smacked a shot which was again well saved by Walker. His ball down field is collected by Jensen.
18' Clarets mounting pressure, Blake causing all sorts of trouble his cross dealt with, only just though.
19' Clarets win a corner. Blake with it, caught by Walker bowls it out for Merson who in turn is found by West.
20' Emblen caught Blake late, and goes into the book. Free-kick from Blake. Oh! And he hit the bar! Cracking effort, from about 30 yards...in fact the apex.
21' West hits another brilliant effort, JUST wide of the far post! I'm not exaggerating by saying we are flattening Walsall here.
22' Walsall win a corner, shimmy from Baird caught out Camara but he got back well and dealt with the threat.
23' Walsall win another corner, Merson's long range effort deflected over the bar.
24' And they've scored. First venture into the Clarets half, and it's Merson. Jensen error, someone tell this lad how to come for crosses. Simple goal for Paul Merson.
25' Leitao skipped by Jensen and hit a goal bound effort, brilliantly cleared by Branch! Phew.
26' Ironic cheers for Jensen as he catches the resulting corner.
26' Merson misses a golden opportunity, Jensen did well to narrow the angle and Merson missed across goal.
28' Weller saves the day a great sliding challenge to prevent Mattias getting his shot away.
29' Leitao beats Jensen to a cross, the Dane not having the best of days. Still 1-1...somehow.
30' Camara steaming down the left wins a corner for the Clarets, good work. Corner - Facey wins the header but can't direct it goalbound.
2' Clarets win a free-kick, Camara pushed.
33' Weller had a great chance, unmarked in the box but his header was weak and straight into the arms of Walker.
35' Great work again from Weller, who skipped through the defense and Chaplow and Ian Moore went for the same ball. Goal-kick.
36' Walsall have an attack... comes to an end, as the Clarets manage to deal with the danger in an unorthidox method.
37' Corner to Walsall (gulp) Jensen comes and...punches, crowd unhappy but at least he got it away this time.
38' Foul by Chaplow, after Camara strangely decided to keep a ball in.
39' Merson shoots from a distance, but it goes harmlessly wide.
41' Ian Moore has a shot but it can't quite fall for West on the rebound and Walsall counter-attack ... Ian Moore gets back brilliantly and makes a superb challenge.
42' Leitao misses a golden opportunity, good ball into the box and he made a meal of it. Clarets are lucky that Walsall haven't grabbed a couple more since their equaliser.
43' Jensen catches a cross.
44' Great work from Walsall and a lovely move is dealt with by Branch who heads behind for a corner. Really missing David May, that's for sure.
45' Aranalde has a shot, deflected wide, cross comes in caught well by Jensen.
45' Clarets on the counter-attack, West comes forward and (i think) it was Facey, he hit the bar with a header. 3rd strike of the woodwork, nevertheless.
HALF TIME
Second Half
It's now belting down with rain at Turf Moor, no changes for either side.
Clarets attacking right to left, kick-off.
45' Corner to Burnley, great turn from Chadwick. Blake tries to get a ball back in, wins another corner. Second corner fell for Weller who smacked it well over the bar.
46' Foul on Blake by Samways. Free-kick to be taken Blake, goes behind for a goal-kick.
47' Can hear the rain belting down now, very gloomy conditions.
48' Chance for Burnley but it's hooked clear away from Facey.
50' Clarets applying a lot of pressure but nothing is really opening up at this stage.
51' Blake sent it to West who had a crack with his left foot but it went wide. Good effort though. How West isn't on the scoresheet we won't know.
52' Leitao converts, but he was well offside.
53' Corner to Burnley after good work from Richard Chaplow. Come on Andy Todd! Blake swings it in, Weller can't win it and is penalised for a foul.
54' Great work from Chaplow to win a ball back, sent Facey through but a close decision was given Walsall's way, offside.
56' Quiet start to the second half, as West's ball can't quite find Facey or Ian Moore.
57' Jensen comes to collect a loose ball, West knocked a ball forward for Facey but unfortunately it just skidded off the Turf and out for a goal-kick.
59' Chaplow finds some space and tries his luck but his shot blocked, Clarets still in possession.
59' Blake skips by a few a challenges and hits a curling effort. Just wide of the post, great effort though.
61' Samways goes into the book for pulling Chaplow's shirt.
62' Some good play from Burnley, playing possession, eventually West comes inside and has a shot but it's blocked by Aranalde.
63' Ian Moore got away from the backline but his cross wasn't good enough for the advancing Facey and it's cut out by Walker.
64' Corner to Burnley, after good work from Chaplow. Blake will take the corner, their 6th. Ian Moore with the diving header and it only just went wide after a flick on from Branch.
65' Chance for Walsall, O'Neil's header goes wide their best chance of the half.
66' Good chance for Burnley, Weller's shot blocked by Lawrence, Ian Moore scooped up the crumbs and sent it back in for Chaplow who couldn't get a shot away. Chadwick has a chance in there also, nothing clear-cut however.
67' Thumping ball from Jensen flicked on by Facey and Chadwick was left all alone and he almost managed to keep it alive.
68' Walsall win a free-kick about 35-yards out, Merson will take it...good catch from Jensen under pressure. Throws it to Camara.
70' Cross from Robbie Blake after some good offensive work but it's easily caught by Walker.
70' Great chance for Facey, turned and shot after a great ball from Todd and his right footed shot just beyond the right hand post...possibly a great save from Walker but given as a goal-kick by the ref.
71' Crowd erupts as Walker slips whilst taking his goal-kick.
72' Good ball from Branch, Ian Moore couldn't quite get on the end of it just skidded past him and into Walker's arms.
74' Chadwick skips away from Samways sends it to Blake who can't get it out from under his feet, Samways only clears to Weller who in turn loses out.
75' Break in play as O'Neil receives some treatment for a knock for Walsall.
76' Walsall win a corner through good work from Merson. Come on Burnley, deal with this one. Great catch from Jensen...Ian Moore sent it inside for Blake who knocked it away for Facey who slipped unfortunately.
78' Hay makes a clanger, the New Zealander, and he concedes a corner. Comes to nothing.
79' Chance for Ian Moore, nipped inside the area but his shot was blocked unfortunately.
80' Camara makes a run down the left, his cross hit's Baird on the arm.
81' Free-kick from Blake, swung in AND ITS DELROY FACEY!!! HE'S SCORED!! OH WHAT A GREAT HEADER, GREAT NOD!!! 2-1 BURNLEY!!
82' Chance for Walsall, free-kick from about 30 yards. Curled into the side netting. Thankfully hit wide by Samways.
85' Camara bombing forward for the Clarets...keeping possession, we come back, Jensen his a spectacular pass 60 yards to Luke Chadwick on the chest. Brilliant ball. Walsall tiring.
86' GOOOOOOALLLLL! DELROY DELROY DELROY HAS A HAT-TRICK! Haven't a clue how he scored it, absolute delerium at Turf Moor 3-1! Smashed a left foot shot into the back of the net.
88' Delroy Facey named man-of-the-match. Great acheivement, but let's not forget Robbie Blake's contribution this afternoon, had a hand in everything.
90' 2 minutes of time added on
91' Facey gets away from his man, Chaplow can't quite get in there.
92' O'Neil hits Walsall's first shot on target in the second half into Jensen's midriff.
That's it, the final whistle. A Delboy (where's Rodders?) hat-trick, has seen the Clarets win 3-1. Thanks for joining me and until next time keep well, bye for now.
Burnley:
1 Brian JENSEN
3 Mohamed CAMARA
4 Paul WELLER
6 Graham BRANCH
8 Robbie BLAKE
10 Ian MOORE
15 Dean WEST
18 Luke CHADWICK
19 Delroy FACEY
20 Richard CHAPLOW
24 Andy TODD
Subs:
21 Matty O'NEILL
2 Lee ROCHE
12 Tony GRANT
Watford:
1 James WALKER
3 Zigor ARANALDE
4 Danny HAY
9 Jorge LEITAO
10 Paul MERSON
12 Pedro MATIAS
14 Jamie LAWRENCE
15 Neil EMBLEN (Yellow '20)
18 Vinny SAMWAYS (yellow '61)
30 Chris BAIRD
33 Gary O'NEIL
Subs:
2 Danny BAZELEY
7 Simon OSBORN
16 Gary BIRCH
27 Aaron KERR
28 Deon BURTON
Scores from around Division One:
Burnley 3-1 Walsall (Facey '3, '81, '86 - Merson '24) [FT]
Crewe 0-1 Watford (Webber '61) [FT]
Palace 2-1 Cardiff (Routledge '45; Shipperly '47 - Kavanah '60) [FT]
Gillingham 0-2 West Brom (Dobie '26; Clement '29) [FT]
Ipswich 2-1 Rotherham (Counago '53, '70(pen) - Butler '59) [FT]
Millwall 2-1 Coventry (Ifill '63; Harris '84 - Staunton '72(pen)) [FT]
Preston 1-0 Franchise (Fuller '29) [FT]
Reading 2-2 Bradford (Sidwell '5; Hughes '77 - Evans '44; Gray '55)
Sheff Utd 0-1 Sunderland (Kyle '68) [FT]
Stoke 2-1 Forest (Thomas '6; Asaba '31 - Williams '90) [FT]
Wigan 1-1 Norwich (Liddel '25 - Roberts '63) [FT]
Derby V West Ham (5:35 PM)