Dominant Clarets Coast past Seasiders

Last updated : 17 September 2008 By Andy Dean
Chris McCann
Chris McCann - Man of the Match
A sublime goal from Martin Paterson and a penalty from in-form Graham Alexander helped lift the Clarets to 12th in the Championship table and any memories of the poor start to the season are slowly beginning to disappear.

The victory is Burnley's second in four days and never looked in much doubt once Paterson superbly curled in his sixth goal of the season on the hour mark.

Wade Elliott, one of numerous star performers on the night, cut in from the right wing and fed the ball to Paterson on the edge of the Blackpool box. The Northern Ireland striker rolled the challenge of Rob Edwards before bending in a sublime left footed effort into the bottom right hand corner of Paul Rachubka's goal.

That opening goal had proved frustratingly elusive for the home side during a first half which, at times, had felt as if it was simply a case of attack versus defence, so dominant were the Clarets.

Steven Thompson could have made the dream start to his Turf Moor career inside the first minute but his effort from the edge of the box sailed high into the substantial away following in the Cricket Field Stand.

Blackpool were then grateful to Rachubka for keeping the scores level. The American stopper made a terrific save to keep out a ferocious free kick from the brilliant Chris McCann. Graham Alexander was fouled 20 yards from goal and, despite his goal scoring exploits against Forest on Saturday, the Scotland international left the set piece to McCann.

The Dubliner hammered the ball past the wall and it was arrowing towards the bottom corner before Rachubka's right hand intervened.

McCann was excellent against Forest on Saturday, but here he was even better. The Irish Under 21 international is really coming of age at the heart of the Clarets midfield and alongside summer recruit Kevin McDonald they dominated the centre of the park all evening and drove Burnley forward at every opportunity.

Owen Coyle must be absolutely delighted to see McCann growing into a player of genuine class, as well as seeing McDonald become more and more accustomed to the English game as he becomes fitter.

Wade Elliott then spurned a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock twenty minutes in. Thompson, who enjoyed a strong home debut, found the former Bournemouth man inside the area with an angled through ball but Elliott took too long to get the ball out of his feet and his shot was blocked by a sliding challenge from Ian Evatt.

It was then the turn of former Blackpool defender Clarke Carlisle to come close to giving the Clarets the lead. The Preston-born defender rose highest to meet Elliott's corner but his effort was only parried by Rachubka but no-one in a Claret shirt could poke the ball over the line during the ensuing melee.

Only once during the first half was Brian Jensen asked to make a save, he had little trouble gathering Ian Evatt's header on the half hour mark and, apart from some erratic kicking, the big Dane had a trouble-free night between the sticks.

The final chance of the first half fell to Kevin McDonald. He really should have done better when put through by a sublime lofted pass from his midfield partner McCann. The ball fell invitingly over the heads of the visiting defenders but McDonald wanted too much time and was eventually cramped for room by Rachubka before firing his shot wide.

Ironically it was during Burnley's worst period of the game that the breakthrough came. For 15 minutes after half time the game became disjointed and scrappy with the Clarets barely able to string more than a handful of passes together.

Paterson deserved the goal when it came. He was a livewire every time the ball was near him and his direct approach scared the Blackpool back-line all evening.

The goal, Paterson's second in the league, was a real gem. He turned his marker on the edge of the box before picking his spot in the bottom corner and executing with perfection. It is little wonder the 21-year-old was withdrawn before the end, his work-rate all night was terrific.

Fifteen minutes after Burnley had gone in front came the game's moment of controversy. Chris McCann won the ball on the edge of his own box before leaving the ball to the advancing Kevin McDonald. He swept Burnley forward and sent a raking ball down the right hand side for Elliott. The winger ran at Mo Camara before fizzing a shot at goal that Rachubka could only spill behind. It was counter-attacking football of the highest order.

As Elliott prepared to deliver a left wing corner Clarets skipper Steven Caldwell fell to the ground in the penalty box. Referee Jon Moss stood motionless until his assistant began flagging on the far side, following a brief consultation between the officials Mr Moss pointed to the spot. It was the sort of penalty you would hate to see given against your team.

Graham Alexander, fresh from his successful spot kick at the City Ground on Saturday, calmly stepped up and sent Rachubka the wrong way to double the home side's lead. There was no one in Turf Moor who could deny Burnley were good value for their two goal lead.

Alexander's three goals in two games are justified reward for the way he is playing at the moment. The midfield anchor role isn't something he has played often during his distinguished career but the protection that he offers to the defence cannot be under-estimated.

With time running out Adam Hammill forced Brian Jensen into his second, and last, save of the night. The winger, on loan from Liverpool, was probably the only Blackpool player who can take any pride from their performance and he found space on the edge of the box in the final minute but his bending effort was safely held by Jensen.

Every individual performance will have pleased the Clarets boss as much as the three points. The two central defenders were dominant and Steven Jordan put in arguably his finest display in a Burnley shirt.

For me Chris McCann takes the Man of the Match award just ahead of goalscorer Paterson. He ran his socks off for ninety minutes and he contributed both going forward and in defence. There has been much talk and hype surrounding McCann since he became a first team regular at Turf Moor and now he is beginning to put in consistently good displays to prove his doubters wrong.

Two wins in a row has seen Owen Coyle's men move into the top half of the table and should we bring any points back from the Liberty Stadium, Swansea on Saturday it will be close to a perfect week !