Jay's buzzing as Clarets go through

Last updated : 24 September 2008 By Tony Scholes
Jay Rodriguez
Jay Rodriguez - scored the winner after coming on as a late substitute
There were only five minutes to go when Jay made a surprise appearance, replacing Martin Paterson, but three minutes later he was celebrating after running on to a through ball from fellow substitute Chris Eagles, selling Fulham keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler a dummy and rolling the ball home into the empty net.

It was no more than the Clarets deserved and what a fantastic way to do it with one of our own, a local lad who has come through the youth system, grabbing the goal and the headlines. I've always had a keen interest in youth development at Burnley and that's why I, with this web site, am so keen to be able to help with the Clarets Mad Youth Foundation. And isn't it fantastic when a product of that youth system wins a game for us?

I'm sure when he came on he was probably expecting another half hour with the game seemingly set for a 0-0 scoreline at ninety minutes but certainly no one inside Turf Moor, apart from a few souls in the cricket field stand, was complaining that he won it for us so dramatically with just about two minutes left.

Having sat in the Bob Lord Stand for the win over Oldham in the previous round I thought it best to do likewise for this round, not as though I'm superstitious. I got to my unreserved seat and checked the teams, and as I expected Owen Coyle made just the two changes that had been forced on him. Joey Gudjonsson came in for the injured Kevin McDonald and Robbie Blake was back for the cup tied Steven Thompson.

With Alex MacDonald and Ade Akinbiyi both unavailable with injuries it left nine players for the seven substitute places and just Adam Kay and Steve Jones missed out.

Fulham started the game quite brightly and it looked as though we were going to have a couple of problems, the pace of Andy Johnson up front and the clear inability of an assistant referee when it came to offside decisions.

Johnson caused us some real early problems, breaking through our back line on at least three occasions. He looked a certain scorer the third time but Russell Anderson got back and forced him wide to avert any danger.

That was just about it for Anderson who went down injured in front of the Longside and there's worrying news of potential ligament damage. Given the way he's started since arriving from RK Sunderland it would be a massive blow to lose him for any length of time. He was stretchered off but by then Michael Duff was already to come on in what was a straight swap at right back.

It was end to end stuff for a while. Chris McCann and Robbie Blake both came close for the Clarets whilst at the other end we were grateful to Stephen Jordan for a superb piece of defensive work as he got back to clear another Johnson effort at the expense of a corner.

As the half progressed we began to see less and less of Fulham as we got to grips with Johnson and much of the play was with the Clarets towards the cricket field end. McCann had another good effort and then Paterson got on the end of a ball from Gudjonsson but he narrowly missed the target.

Fulham did finally get back into the game as half time approached and they had a two to three minute spell on top that could so easily have seen them get a goal. But we were defending resolutely when we had to and we saw off the danger.

It had been a decent first half by the Clarets against a strong Fulham side and it was Burnley again who were having most of the play early in the second half. Surely the visitors would come back at us, and they did just that to have their best period of the night.

So good were we at the back though that Brian Jensen had precious little to do. We won headers, got blocks in and won countless tackles. During this time I can't remember Jensen having a save to make.

We needed to get back into it and that's what we did with McCann seemingly involved in just about everything. He came closest of all for Burnley with a header following a corner which was cleared off the line and then should have done much better when he had a free header, only to plant it right into the goalkeeper's hands.

Owen Coyle brought on Chris Eagles for Blake with fifteen minutes to go and then ten minutes later came the surprising change with Jay replacing Pato. It all looked to be heading for extra time when Jay struck.

What a finish, it was as calm as you like, and there really was no way back for Fulham. When the hugely impressive Mike Jones blew the final whistle it was Burnley who were through to the last sixteen.

All day I'd chosen not to mention that Fulham hadn't won at Burnley since 1951 (even before I was born). I didn't want to tempt fate. I can mention it now, as we made it 23 wins and 4 draws since that defeat over 57 years ago.

Again there were good performances all over the park. Stephen Jordan had another outstanding game, and you won't see much better forward play than we got from Martin Paterson. Both of them were very close to getting my vote. However, another clean sheet inspired yet again by Steven Caldwell at the back, and for the second successive game it is the captain who gets my vote. But it could almost have been any one of them.

Another great night Burnley, the last two Turf Moor Tuesdays have been superb entertainment. Now we look forward to Saturday, the cup draw and a clash with North End.

The teams were;

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Russell Anderson (Michael Duff 12), Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake (Chris Eagles 75), Martin Paterson (Jay Rodriguez 85). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Christian Kalvenes, Remco van der Schaaf, Alan Mahon.

Fulham: Pascal Zuberbuhler, Fredrik Stoor, Chris Baird, Tony Kallio, Paul Konchesky, Zoltan Gera (John Pantsil 73), Leon Andreasen, Andranik, Clint Dempsey, Andy Johnson (Erik Nevlend 72), Seol Ki-Hyeon (Robert Milsom 90). Subs not used: David Stockdale, Adrian Leijer, Wayne Brown.Yellow cards: Tony Kallio.

Referee: Mike Jones (Chester).

Attendance: 7,119.