Horrible, horrible day

Last updated : 19 October 2009 By Tony Scholes
Chris Eagles
Chris Eagles - it improved no end with his introduction
But I'll never be able to forget the way I was treated by the police and my football club in the way I was sent to and from Ewood Park, and right now I can't forget the three first half goals that condemned us to a fifth away defeat on the road in the Premier League.

I love away games, and despite the results I've had some good days out this season at such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs. But yesterday was different and no matter how the game had gone all the fun of an away day was taken away with the shocking, shocking way we were forced to go to the game.

"May we take this opportunity to welcome you to today's football match and hope that you have a fantastic time," was the opening line of a letter handed out to supporters ahead of the journey. It was from Superintendent Chris Bithell and John Newsham the safety officer at Ewood Park. They should hang their heads in shame.

Eventually, after what seemed an age inside Ewood, it was time for the game and the team news from our point of view was hardly a surprise when the same eighteen players were named who had been involved against Birmingham in the previous game.

And with less than five minutes gone most of the Darwen End went berserk - I would have suggested we'd lifted the roof but someone might take that the wrong way. Andre Bikey prevented the ball going out for a corner in our right back position and then played the ball up the field to Wade Elliott.

It was an excellent ball from Bikey and so was the control and turn from Wade who then played it across to Robbie Blake. It was time for the little magician to pull one of his rabbits out. Wade did really well by making a run to the left to pull a defender away and once Robbie went inside on his right foot we just knew the shot was coming.

From fully 25-yards he left Paul Robinson clutching at fresh air as the ball flew into the net right in front of the drum banging Blackburn end. What a start. I looked over to the big screen to my left and it read 'BLACKBURN 0 BURNLEY 1'. If only it could have stayed that way.

Sadly it didn't and by half time we were a beaten side with a 3-1 deficit against a home team that had hardly had to do anything remarkable to get that lead. It was mistakes all the way that cost us, although they do get some credit for the way the equaliser was set up.

Steven Fletcher was badly at fault with the first and third whilst Brian Jensen, who had a worrying afternoon on his 250th appearance, was responsible for the second along with Graham Alexander.

From my view behind that goal I am totally convinced that the Beast was pushed but he's got to be stronger than that and he can't allow situations like that to end in goals.

That third one came right before half time. We couldn't seriously complain but at 2-1 maybe, just maybe, there might have been something in it for us in the second half.

Whether they took the foot off the pedal after the break we'll never know but we did at least restore some pride, and it improved no end with the introduction of Chris Eagles on the hour. Eagles hasn't started a league game since the end of last season and he's been very much Plan B since promotion. Maybe it is time now to give him the opportunity to be Plan A.

He wasn't perfect and he missed out on a couple of half chances, but he gave the home defence something to think about, took them on, and he fully deserved to get himself on the scoresheet at the end.

It was a well worked move that ended with an excellent ball pulled back by Stephen Jordan from the left that Eagles placed into the bottom corner.

By then we were in stoppage time and although it gave us a couple of minutes of excitement there was no doubt that goal had come far too late to spark off a remarkable comeback.

It ended in disappointment, and the wait for a win against our local rivals continues. As Dave Pollard said in his report, "Our day will come."

I'm gutted with the result, I really am, but the everlasting memory of the day will be the shocking policing that forced me to go on a club run coach against my wishes, and we all know the level of incompetence the club reach when it comes to putting on transport for fans.

Some fans voted with their feet and chose not to go on principle, some of them people I know and although their decisions surprised me I did understand them. If they try this again next year I'll seriously consider joining them. This is no way to go and watch a football match.

The teams were;

Blackburn: Paul Robinson, Lars Jacobsen, Chris Samba, Ryan Nelsen, Pascal Chimbonda (Gael Givet 87), El Hadji Diouf (Brett Emerton 81), Keith Andrews, Steven N'Zonzi, Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Dunn, Franco di Santo (Jason Roberts 75). Subs not used: Jason Brown, Michel Salgado, Benni McCarthy, David Hoilett.
Yellow Cards: Franco di Santo, Steven N'Zonzi, Franco di Santo.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Andre Bikey (Kevin McDonald 78), Graham Alexander, Steven Fletcher (Chris Eagles 60), Wade Elliott, Robbie Blake, David Nugent (Steven Thompson 72). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Michael Duff, Christian Kalvenes, Joey Gudjonsson.
Yellow Cards: Clarke Carlisle, Tyrone Mears, Brian Jensen.

Referee:Chris Foy (St Helens).

Attendance: 26,689.