Dull in the Drizzle

Star Geezer - Mark McGregor

Missing from action was Grant through suspension, this much was known before setting off, but add to that the mystery non-appearances of Little and Davis, it looked bleak as the rain fell when the teams came out. Coming into the action were captain Cook and McGregor, with Weller shoring up the midfield lines as Clarets looked to kick up t' slope in a poor first half.

With Stan choosing from bare bones, Armstrong returned from the physio's table and even Payton was given a tracksuit for the day out. The man in green Andy Hall somehow saw fit to book seven players, six in the first half, after introducing a new rule of no contact. A pity he kept his rulebook to himself, such was his inept interpretation of the foul in making no allowances whatsoever for the conditions, or that there were any fouls really worthy of taking names.

Gareth Taylor rewarded himself the quickest Clarets booking of all time(?), when after only six seconds he collided with a defender when chasing Cook's up field pass from the kick off. The collision was serious, Taylor took no further part in the game, looking severely dazed as he was helped from the field. Quite how Mr Hall could book him for the very first moment in the game defied belief, but Mr Hall had set a worrying precedent as the rain fell as Brad Maylett came on for an unexpected ninety minute runaround.

Briscoe's name followed that of Taylor's, an innocuous challenge seeing Mr Hall at it again on only five minutes, before Clarets first real action saw Ian Moore pull his shot wide of Pollitt's left post and into the side netting.

Clarets looked like a team missing influential players, disjointed and with passing to players in the same strip seemingly a rare ability, it gave Millers chances to attack down the slope in the early stages. Good defending from West cleared Sedgwick's dangerous cross from their right, before Rotherham had their one and only real chance of the game on the quarter hour, but Barker's diving header from only eight yards flew just over after Lee's neat header back across goal had set up the chance.

With Mr Hall's whistle and the conditions playing major roles in the proceedings, neither side really got going and the game was one of low quality throughout. Brad Maylett's slide tackle enabled Mr Hall to keep his average of a booking every seven minutes going half way through the half.

Briscoe's up field punt saw Scott slip and fall when trying to control the ball, his fall to ground seemingly breaking his right arm and it looked a very painful walk down the touchline as he gingerly carried his arm.

Moore's advance on goal was checked by a crude trip and Mr Hall was it again with his ever increasing name collection, before Bryan had a shot well saved by Beresford on the half hour.

The poor state of play was summed by Branch ten minutes from the break, miskicking so badly from the left touchline that he missed the entire pitch with his intended pass, "Branchy for England" the rather sarcastic chant behind me, Branchy for Specsavers more like, but his was a performance that was better than this error.

Weller was booked for daring to get into the game or a tackle on Monkhouse, it was not that clear, before Clarets won a corner five minutes from the Bovril. The corner came to nothing but it did break up the drab play in midfield before Warne replaced an injured Monkhouse.

Star Gazer - Ian Moore

Well the answer to the question very quickly became apparent, the second half was no better than that that had gone before, though with Clarets kicking downhill at least we would se more of the "action" of this supposed First Division encounter.

Blake, who once again looked the only player of real quality, saw a deflected shot well parried by Pollitt and Weller was only a thigh away from converting at the far post in the clamour for the loose ball. Ten minutes in came Clarets real chance, when after superb trickery by Blake his diagonal low cross was met by Ian Moore whose reverse shot was agonisingly close to the far post, but passed the wrong side of the post from a Claret perspective.

Weller wasted a good opening when curling a half hearted shot over from twenty yards on the hour, before Byfield replaced Lee, then McGregor followed Weller's example wasting a good chance, over hitting his cross from within the area; you sensed it was this sort of game.

McGregor was next into action, completely missing the ball as it skidded under his foot when defending a dangerous long pass, the linesman coming to his rescue and seeing Byfield offside.

Beresford was equal to Sedgwick's free kick tipping away, before Papa.. . replaced an unimpressive Maylett with a quarter of an hour to go. West got his name taken for a late challenge on Byfield, before Blake and Papa tried to work an opening on the edge of the area, but good defending saw an end to that.

Marlon's safe hands were largely needed collecting late balls into the Clarets area as Rotherham tried to create late chances, but it was not to be, Alan Moore getting a late entry to the play as Blake was applauded from the field. Mr Hall brought to an end a game that lacked any real creativity and quality throughout. Sometimes nil nil's are entertaining - not this one, though the point taken was well earned given the circumstances at three o'clock.

Att:- 7,525

Ian Moore. Never really got into the game and more often than not ran himself into trouble. Wasted a good early chance, his game petered out from there unable to find any space or options.

Clarets never really got going, the lack of quality and creativity once again missing from the midfield, Cook's passing abilities replaced by the need to get his tackles in and battle against the conditions and Rotherham's grafters. Sadly, Gareth Taylor will probably miss next weeks action under the mandatory rulings regarding head injuries, so injuries and one thing and another come into play.

Could easily have been Robbie Blake again, but I think it goes to Mark McGregor, who came in from the cold to give a solid defensive display alongside Arthur. Kept the pressure off Marlon by constantly getting his challenges in early and came away with the ball on many occasions.

Another point keeps the mini-run going. Whilst Clarets did not create that many chances, neither did the defence allow too many to be created by Rotherham maintaining the stalemate score line with some ease.