Clarets take it out on Coventry

Last updated : 14 August 2005 By Tony Scholes
Chris McCann - enjoyed an excellent debut
Yes four, and it could have been double that as we carved out chance after chance in a performance that left you wondering what had been happening in the first two games of the season.

Gone was any sign of the long ball as the Clarets played the ball through midfield, and on the ground, in some of the best football we have seen for some time at the Turf and although there was the odd scare a the back we were simply not flattered by the 4-0 scoreline even though two of the goals came in the dying minutes from striker Ade Akinbiyi.

Some have questioned the outlay of £600,000 for the former Stoke striker but he’s now hit seven goals in twelve games for us, since that somewhat ill fated debut, and today turned in an awesome performance of forward play that had the visiting defenders pulled here, there and everywhere.

It made life easier for the midfield and they took every opportunity as we run the game in that area of the field with some outstanding individual performances.

The afternoon didn’t start quite so dramatically, that is unless you were caught in the torrential downpour on the way to the ground that left the walk ways outside the Longside flooded, but on a superb playing surface the game got off to a somewhat quiet start after an initial two minute burst from the Clarets.

We weren’t helped with an injury to Wade Elliott, who had to go off for treatment. It left us down to ten men for longer than it should as the once again inept Nigel Miller refused to allow him to return for what seemed an age. Clearly Miller isn’t aware of the rules on this.

Once back on it was obvious that Elliott wouldn’t last very long and that was the case which meant youngster Chris McCann got on for his first taste of league football.

He went on the left with Garreth O’Connor moving over to the right and we then started to get into our stride. Micah Hyde could have done better from a McCann knock down but he got a shot on target only for Stephen Bywater to save, whilst Akinbiyi’s effort went out for a throw in.

A goal looked on the cards and when it came it was Garreth O’Connor’s first league goal for the Clarets. He shot superbly into the bottom corner after he had been set up with a neat lay off from Gifton Noel-Williams.

It was the lift the Clarets really needed and although Coventry clipped the bar with a long distance effort it was no surprise when we doubled our lead. McCann won a corner on the left and Wayne Thomas grabbed his first Burnley goal, heading in Garreth O’Connor’s flag kick.

There was a really nice touch too, McCann had come back to the half way line at the corner but after the goal Brian Jensen came out of goal to McCann to congratulate him on his part.

It was all happening now and we really should have made it three when the assistant referee saw what referee Miller hadn’t seen all afternoon, a pull on Gifton. This one was inside the box and as the flag went across the assistant’s chest, Miller pointed to the spot.

Coventry’s Stephen Hughes wasn’t altogether happy with the decision and decided to have a word with the assistant about it. He got more than a word back, he got a red card from the referee for what was foul and abusive language.

Ade Akinbiyi - awesome performance from him that brought two goals
Two up and Coventry down to ten men, it would be all over if we converted the penalty and up stepped Gifton to take it. Now I’m not sure what he was trying to do but the ball sailed way over the bar although it has been rumoured late this evening that it has finally come back down and been returned to the Turf.

What should have been 3-0 almost became 2-1 as James Scowcroft hit the woodwork but with that staying out it was 2-0 at the interval and a standing ovation for the Clarets.

I’m not sure what it is about football fans but despite being two goals in front and despite having a man advantage there was much talk at half time about the possibility of Coventry getting back into it. In reality that was never going to happen as Burnley dominated the second half.

We piled forward almost throughout the second period but that third goal just wouldn’t come with Ade more than once coming so close. He shot wide, he had another effort well saved and then looked set to score before a last ditch tackle took the ball away from him.

The two front men were getting superb support from the four midfielders behind them and the defenders were joining in, otherwise they would have been pretty much redundant.

Both O’Connors shot just wide, Micah had a shot blocked and then youngster McCann nearly got the third himself after a free kick was worked across to him on the edge of the box. His shot went just side of the left hand post and looked to take a deflection away from goal.

It was close to the end of McCann’s afternoon as manager Steve Cotterill decided to use Kyle Lafferty for the last few minutes. The Republic of Ireland youngster received a standing ovation from the home fans as he left the field.

With time running out Ade finally got the goal his performance so deserved when he turned in a ball from Gifton, he then got himself another when he got on the end of a low cross from Lafferty.

A 4-0 win, the first time we’ve hit four for eighteen months since the 4-2 victory over Ipswich in February 2004.

It was a top all round performance from the Clarets with Micah Hyde outstanding in midfield, in what was possibly his best performance in a Burnley shirt. There were excellent performances too from the three other midfield players, both Garreth and James O’Connor, along with Chris McCann.

It would be so easy to give Micah the man of the match but I really do have to go for Ade who, as I said, was awesome. But a few team performances like this and we’ll have no worries about dropping down towards the bottom of this league. We saw today just what we can do, just as long as we have enough players available to keep doing it.

Today it was so much more enjoyable being a Claret.

The teams were,

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Wayne Thomas, John McGreal, Graham Branch, Wade Elliott (Chris McCann 12, Kyle Lafferty 78), Micah Hyde, James O’Connor, Garreth O’Connor, Gifton Noel-Williams, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs not used: Danny Coyne, Frank Sinclair, Mark Yates.

Coventry: Stephen Bywater, Richard Duffy, Robert Page, Matt Heath, Marcus Hall, James Scowcroft, Micky Doyle, Stephen Hughes, Gary McSheffrey (Adrian Williams 70), Stern John (Claus Jorgensen 45), Dele Adebola (Andy Morrell 76). Subs not used: Clayton Ince, Neil Wood.

Referee: Nigel Miller (Co Durham).

Attendance: 11,683.