Improving Clarets slump again

Last updated : 19 March 2003 By Steve Cummings

Glen Little - back in the starting eleven with Robbie Blake
But in losing 2-1 to a promotion-chasing, but very ordinary Leicester City side, there were some positive signs. In fact it would not be overstating the case to suggest that there were more good things in this performance, than in the entire three games which preceded it.

Burnley played with a desire which had been all too obviously lacking against the likes of Watford, Sheffield United and Walsall. Not only that, but they created a number of chances, and on another night could easily have come away with a hatful. Yet perhaps the biggest plus point of all was the return to the starting eleven of Messrs. Blake and Little. Ternent has had his (mystifying) reasons for not playing these two in recent weeks, but last night it was amply evident that Burnley are an infinitely better side with these two in the team than without them. When on song, they elevate Burnley from the ordinary to the special.

But whilst there was a welcome return for Burnley’s two most creative outlets, there were other, more questionable decisions surrounding team selection. It is hard to imagine there exists a goalkeeper lower on confidence than Marlon Beresford. Yet even following his recent horror-show performances, Stan backed his man and gave him the jersey. Nik The Greek must have been wondering what has to happen for him to get a game at Burnley. He may have been given his answer in the last ten minutes, but more of that later.

In front of Beresford, three-quarters of the defence which conceded three at the Bescot were axed. Fans’ favourite, Arthur Gnohere made a welcome return at left back in favour of Graham Branch. Steve Davis and the only survivor from Walsall, Drissa Diallo paired up at centre-back. The right back berth was reclaimed by Dean West, as Mark McGregor missed out. Across the middle Burnley went with Briscoe, Cook, Weller and Little, whilst Robbie Blake played just off Ian Moore up front.

The opening exchanges were pretty much tit-for-tat as the pattern of the game established itself. With Gareth Taylor suspended, the Clarets played some neat approach play on the deck. In contrast, the Foxes concentrated on spreading play to the flanks and firing crosses in for veteran beanpole, Brian Deane.

Yet despite the aerial bombardment, it was the smallest and most annoying player on the pitch, Paul Dickov, who caused the initial problems. On 3 minutes, Marlon Beresford had to move sharply off his line to win a 50/50 with the Scot. Ten minutes later, the same player received the ball and used his low centre of gravity to turn sharply and fire a shot in. The onion bag remained unrustled.

Burnley responded well. Shortly after the quarter hour mark, Ian Moore was played in by Paul Weller, but Ian Walker managed to hold onto the effort without causing too much trouble to his haircut. As the game went, Robbie Blake’s influence grew. On 23 minutes he slipped a good ball through to Ian Moore, but on this occasion the striker shot wide of the target.

Sixty seconds later in what was an open and entertaining game, Nicky Summerbee (on for the injured Brian Deane) made headway down Burnley’s left. After some sloppy defending by King Arthur, Summerbee’s cross eluded the gaping Marlon Beresford who had cause to be thankful to Dean West who returned the ball from whence it had come with interest.

On the 30 minute mark, Burnley were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Foxes’ area. But Robbie Blake’s disappointing effort flew high over the bar and into the meagre Leicester following of 700 or so in the Cricket Field Stand. Four minutes later Robbie Blake was released following good work from Glen Little. But with just Walker to beat, the diminutive forward blazed over.

With ten minutes to the interval, Burnley got another free-kick in a dangerous position. This time, the Skip fancied a go. His effort was closer than Blake’s but his daisy-cutter, despite eluding the target still ended up going wide of Ian Walker’s right-hand upright. The last significant action of the first period went the visitor’s way as Paul Dickov narrowly failed to connect with Nicky Summerbee’s cross when only 8 yards out.

Halftime was a more pleasant experience than it had been at Bramall Lane or the Bescot, as Burnley’s supporters basked in the comparative glory of not being 2-0 down at the break.

Burnley began the second half with a substitution as Briscoe was replaced by Grant. On 48 minutes, Blake’s silky skills began an attack which ended with Dean West thrashing a shot against a Leicester defender. Soon after, West was involved again. It was his deft free-kick which was dropped in behind the Foxes’ backline. With the ball bouncing and his back to goal, Blake was unable to work himself into a decent position and the chance went begging.

On 57 minutes Paul Cook was withdrawn in favour of Alan Moore. Blake again went close on 66 minutes with another free-kick which brushed the top of Walker’s net.

Burnley were playing some good stuff at this point, but despite the gaffer’s call to be more lethal in front if goal, they couldn’t provide the killer touch. With 20 minutes to go a cross from the left was headed down by Ian Moore into Blake’s path, but yet again the striker was unable to keep his volley down. Some Burnley supporters were beginning to suspect that Blake was on a bonus based on the number of times he could shoot over Walker’s goal, as five minutes later he wasted a chance set up by Glen Little.

Having survived this spell of pressure, Leicester City stepped things up for the last ten minutes or so. On 77 minutes, Davis was obliged to hoof clear a Jamie Scowcroft header in the six-yard box. Two minutes later, Burnley were to pay for missing a succession of chances. A Muzzy Izzet corner was knocked down by Matt Elliott. General confusion ensued in Burnley’s six-yard box, and in the melee it was Paul Dickov who was quickest to react, stabbing the ball home from close range. It was an advantage the visitor’s scarcely deserved. The manager reacted by bringing on Papadopoulos for a rare start. King Arthur was the player to make way.

On 83 it was game over, thanks to sloppy goalkeeping and the opportunism of Leicester substitute, Trevor Benjamin. Izzet’s corner was allowed to drift across the box unmolested – certainly Marlon got nowhere near it – and Benjamin (hardly a goal machine) scored what will surely rank as one of the easiest headers he will ever score.

On the general balance of play it was an unjust hammer blow – but such is football. For the third game running, Burnley grabbed a last-gasp consolation. A clever free-kick from The Skip 20 yards out released Little down the right. His hard, low, driven centre was expertly turned home by own-goal expert, Frank Sinclair.

In an even contest, the difference between the two sides was the visitors’ ability to turn their chances into goals. But at least tonight the Clarets played with a bit of passion and imagination. It is just a shame the season is ebbing away.