|
Clarets defied their recent run of bad luck, poor results and punished mistakes, matched Reading in terms of craft and graft, then turned on the style to run out comfortable winners in the end, claiming the much needed three points as a consequence.
Was it the loss of 3,000 on the gate from Saturday's dismal showing against Rotherham, was it the cold, wet night allure of Turf Moor? Who knows and who cares, because on this showing Clarets can match more than most in this Division from the teams seen to date.
From the rock solid pairing at the back of David May and Arthur, thru' the midfield tenacity of the once again superb Richard Chaplow, to the front qualities of Blake and Moore, this was a rejuvenated all round Clarets team display.
With riches to choose from, Stan had the luxury of who to leave out with fit again Chadwick and Facey adorning tracksuits of which all five were in use for a change.
And so on a cold, wet, blustery night, those who walked up to Burnley took their seats and watched a first half of good, tight football, where, with both teams deploying lone strikers, play was compressed into a midfield area of some twenty yards either side of the half way line, space at a premium, good control and awareness vital to making matters count.
With little more than three minutes on the clock the Proclaimers de dah de dah de dah, were booming out as Blake's curled free kick skidded off the wet surface, deceived everyone and nestled neatly in the corner of Hahnemann's net.
The early goal set Clarets up nicely, their football belied a team in eighteenth spot and, though they had to chase Reading's neat passing game, they did so largely on an effective basis, though the visitors did have the better of the half and the balance of the chances created.
Attacking with speed, particularly from free kicks, Reading's policy was to target balls to Forster and support him quickly from midfield with the tricky Salako becoming less effective the more the game progressed.
Jensen used every inch of his eighteen yard area, collecting a ball at Forster's feet on ten minutes and Sidwell should have done better than blaze over on the quarter hour, with May beckoning Little to help out in defending, Blakey taking the blame for allowing the space for the well struck shot.
West tripped Salako off the ball and the winger made the most of the tap, though curiously showed no ill effects when sprinting at full pace less than a minute later. I never realised Burnley rain had such healing properties, Mr Edmundson had better bottle that miracle elixir falling from the sky.
With Reading continuing to threaten, May timed his tackle superbly on twenty minutes when last man against Forster, then Beasty boy belied his critics with a superb save, blocking Salako's point blank tap home from Forster's square ball.
The Beast was having a night of good handling and good fortune, typified when, on the half hour, he had the ball, lost the ball to Forster, then smothered the loose ball, as Forster looked to roll the ball home. At least if nothing else the big Dane is both unpredictable and at times entertaining.
Blake and Moore almost worked an opening in a brief foray up field before the Forster/Jensen contest was back on again, this time the keeper down well to his left parrying the strikers shot from the edge of the area.
Branch, having strained a calf, had to depart his left wing berth, being replaced by Chadwick, a move that gave the Clarets extra quality and from which point the game became more balanced. Not a criticism of Branch on the night, more that Chadwick gave Reading additional worries than simply looking out for Blake and Little.
Shorey's well worked free kick hit the side netting before Clarets burst into life in the minutes leading up to half time with a string of half chances. Good work from Moore allowed Camara a shot, which hit a Reading player, leaving Clarets claiming a penalty.
With Stan still protesting the non-award, Arthur saw a glancing header just wide of the far post with no one in black any near to defend. It completed a very entertaining half and there was much applause from the paltry crowd as the teams left the field.
|
Sloppy defending by Reading's central defenders and Hahnemann saw a loose ball run out of the area, where fully twenty yards from goal, Chaplow defied his inexperience with a goal of vision and finesse. Instead of panicking under pressure of being closed down, the youngster looked up, picked his spot and sent a delightfully curled shot into the top corner.
On comes the tannoy and when I wake up, yeah I know I'm gonna be de dah de dah de dah booms out once again. Within a minute an immediate reply was chalked off as an airborne Beast acrobatically tipped away a goal bound lob, before Ian Moore embarrassingly tripped up when clean through and only Hahnemann to beat.
Somewhat fortuitously, Chadwick made it three, deflecting Blake's free kick ten minutes in and guess what, but I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more de dah de dah de dah is there again.
The third sunk Reading to their knees, shots began to rain in as Clarets visibly grew in confidence and style as the visitors abandoned their neat approach play with a style of desperation, long balls and clueless ness.
Coppell had had enough and sent on three subs at once, Salako was reminded of his popularity as his number was shown. Worryingly, Jensen was injured on the hour, but recovered after treatment, before Chaplow was booked for being nothing more than competitive.
Newman was abusive once too often and a mouthful to the linesman earned both a yellow card and a ten yard advancement, Blake's resulting free kick well held. Twenty minutes from time and we had the rare sight of David May bearing down on goal, when a ricochet fell in his path after he was slow returning from a corner. Though the audacious shot was wide, it was still encouraging to see him have a go from twenty yards.
Blake, Chadwick and Little were enjoying themselves and creating chances aplenty, the defence looked resolute and Chaplow continued to run on and on and on, his all round game impressive to say the least in an entertaining finale to the game, though not so for the hundred or so from Berkshire ruing their decision to make the effort.
With ten minutes remaining and having been fouled by the then cautioned Sidwell, Chaplow left the field to a deserved standing ovation, Weller coming on for his win bonus.
Facey did likewise five minutes from time in place of the impressive Chadwick as Clarets ran the clock down, kept the all too rare clean sheet and banked the three well earned points in the process.
After the disappointment of the Rotherham game, this was a much improved all round performance, the win the first since the introduction of the winter time yellow ball.
Att:- 9,473.
Star Gazer
Tony Grantona. You had to check , but he really was still on the pitch after ninety minutes. Maybe it was due to Chaplow's immense performance alongside, but Grantona was as easy to find as the moon.
Beer Money
With some three thousand missing from the gate, quite where Clarets are supposed find the money to pay wages let alone sign new players is anyone's guess. Supporters are supposed to walking up not walking away, or are the missing one's saving up for Sunderland at the weekend?
Star Geezer
Richard Chaplow. Once again gave an awesome performance. Eighteen years old and playing regularly to this standard, it won't be long before word spreads and others are taking a good long look at our local star.
Champagne Tastes
On the evidence of this performance, the squad has real quality and can progress. It's plain to all though that it does not have quantity and now the suspensions and what nots kick in once again, removing both central defenders for the next key games against Sunderland and Sheffield United. Ho hum.