Draw time again on the Turf

Last updated : 20 October 2004 By Tony Scholes

Graham Branch - got the second goal in a Man of the Match performance
All four goals in this 2-2 draw came in a short second half spell with the Clarets twice coming from behind within three minutes, firstly from a Robbie Blake penalty and then from Graham Branch who was moved up front in the second half.

It was a game of two halves with the first half a somewhat tentative affair with neither side really able to break down the other. Coventry looked content to keep the Clarets at bay and someone even suggested they had come not to lose, I don’t know what Joe Royle would have made of that.


Any chances in the first period fell our way but we were unable to make any of them count. Jean-Louis Valois hit a few shots from distance but they didn’t trouble Luke Steele in the Coventry goal and Micah Hyde hit one from around 25-yards that just cleared the ball.


Ian Moore should have scored from a Mo Camara cross. The full-back wasn’t at his best last night going forward but this one was perfect to Mooro at the near post. However he glanced his header wide and the chance was gone.

Probably the best chance of the first half fell to Richard Chaplow when he was put clear in the box with a superb ball from Micah Hyde. The Clarets’ England international looked a certain scorer but he put his shot wide.


Robbie Blake went clear down the right but when one-on-one with the keeper failed to make it count and hit the ball straight at him.


It wasn’t all one way traffic though and although content to keep it tight Coventry did have their moments – one in particular when Eddie Johnson got onto a ball from the left wing. He knocked it past Danny Coyne and just for a second it looked to be going goalwards. Mo got it clear but in any case it was missing the target.

There was one bad moment for the Clarets, and in particular for Frank Sinclair. He was booked by referee Scott Mathieson somewhat harshly and that means he will now miss the cup tie against Villa next week.


So 0-0 at half time yet we should probably have been in front with the chances we had created – I’m sure they were told once again that they need to be more ruthless in front of goal.

Half time came and went and little changed with the Clarets probably having even more possession than in the first half without troubling the keeper and nothing was seen of Coventry as an attacking force.

That was until just after the hour when the game turned on its head with goals galore and it was Coventry who took the lead. Loan player Rohan Ricketts got past Michael Duff on the left and crossed low for loan player Eddie Johnson to turn it in from close range.


The Clarets responded quickly and responded well and within three minutes we were level via the penalty spot. Referee Mathieson had no doubts as Robbie was brought down by Andrew Whing.


Robbie Blake - got the first equaliser from the penalty spot
There was a delay as some dwarf like figure appeared in the Coventry technical area trying to pass on instructions to Steele but it made no difference and although he went the right way, to his left, Robbie’s spot kick beat him and we were level.

It was all we needed and we pushed forward at Coventry and for the next few minutes we put them under enormous pressure as we tried to get ourselves in front but we didn’t and for once we got caught out at the back.

Coventry cleared a corner and found themselves with three against two – again it was Ricketts who got clear and he played the ball across for Graham Barrett who gave Danny Coyne no chance.


Behind again and there was some restlessness in the stands but incredibly we were back level again within three minutes as the two front men, Robbie Blake and Graham Branch, linked up with one knocking the ball down for the other.


Frank Sinclair played a superb ball into the box that found Robbie who knocked it down for Branchy to hit home from close range. Yes I have that one the right way round – it was Robbie Blake who knocked the ball down for Graham Branch.

Four goals in eleven minutes and not much short of twenty minutes still to go, we wondered what would happen next. What did happen was that, a couple of half chances apart, the game petered out into a draw with neither side looking able to breach the opposition defence again.


So yes it probably should have been better than a draw, yet having twice been behind it could also have been worse. Coventry haven’t won since August Bank Holiday, on the day when Burnley last lost. Those records remain intact.

There are only two choices for me when looking for our best player, one inevitably is John McGreal who just turns in masterful performance after masterful performance at the back.

But I’ll go for Graham Branch. He started the game on the left, ended it up front, scored the second goal and turned in his best ninety minutes of the season. People always seem keen to knock him and manager Steve Cotterill said after the game that he is a player who can lack confidence.


He won’t be lacking confidence if he can turn in a few more performances like that.

The draw sees us down in 12th place and there is no doubt that we need to start turning some of the draws into wins – I’m sure that will come.


The teams were,


Burnley:
Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Jean-Louis Valois (Lee Roche 81), Richard Chaplow (Tony Grant 90), Micah Hyde, Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Richard Duffy, Amadou Sanokho.

Coventry: Luke Steele, Andrew Whing, Richard Shaw, Dean Leacock, Steve Staunton, Andy Morrell (Graham Barrett 61), Micky Doyle, Stephen Hughes, Rohan Ricketts, Eddie Johnson, Stern John (Patrick Suffo 78). Subs: Scott Shearer, Tim Sherwood, Stuart Giddings.


Referee:
Scott Mathieson (Stockport).


Attendance:
10,919.