Grimsby Town 3 Burnley 1 Brief report and table analysis

Last updated : 13 April 2002 By Andy Robinson
Lee Briscoe
Despite the defeat a last minute goal by Lee Briscoe could have made all the difference in the race to finish in the top 6. It keeps the Clarets in the final play off spot though only by virtue of the fact that we have scored more goals than Norwich City. Both teams have the same number of points and an identical goal difference.

Many people had said that this was a 'must win' for the Clarets though I preferred to call it a 'must not get beat'. Sadly all hope of that happening had evaporated inside the first 15 minutes as Grimsby scored twice in front of a packed Blundell Park with the home side desperate for the points in their own fight to avoid relegation.

With news coming through that Norwich were winning things started to look very bleak and became even worse shortly before half time when Nik Michopoulos failed to get to the ball after charging out of his box. This left the impressive Boulding, who only played after passing a late fitness test, to score his second of the game and send the Clarets in 3-0 down at the break.

There will be further reports to follow from those at the game and I'll leave it to them to judge just how poor we were but the scoreline rather tells its own story.

Gazza and Gareth Taylor came on at half time for Little and Ball respectively but still nothing was going right for the Clarets and when Norwich went 2 up, as it stood we were out of the play off places.

With time all but up enter an unlikely source of some salvation as Lee Briscoe scored what was only a consolation in terms of this match but what could be a massive goal in our play off challenge.

Next Sunday at Turf Moor for the match against Coventry will not be a place for the faint hearted as it stands like this:

Millwall are in 4th place with 74 points and if they get at least a point in their home game against Grimsby then neither us or Norwich can catch them thanks to their superior goal difference.

Birmingham are 5th and only a win at home to Sheffield United will guarantee them a play off place. A draw or a defeat could see both us and Norwich go past them if we both win.

Assuming Millwall and Birmingham do the business a simple win will not be good enough to guarantee the Clarets a place. If we win 2-0 and Norwich win 3-0 then they will move above us. If we both win 2-0 then Burnley will be 6th, it is that tight.

Norwich entertain relegated Stockport County at Carrow Road which may sound easy but Stockport have actually been playing much better since they went down and it will be no walk over for Norwich.

In theory we could lose or draw against Coventry and still make the play offs, we simply have to do the same as or better than Norwich though this would also rely on Preston and possibly Wimbledon not winning either.

So a nervous week is in store for Clarets fans with Saturday promising to be a long day as we wait for the Sunday kick off. It should be a full house at Turf Moor and where else would you rather be? It is sometimes said that the crowd can be worth an extra goal and that could be crucial in the final shake up.