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This wasn't the stylish Clarets that removed Gills two weeks previously from the FA Cup. Instead, this was a dogged, Blakeless Clarets, that just did enough to win and if only for the first time in eight League games, the three points add nicely on top of the recent single point returns ground out on Clarets travels.
With Blake missing due to suspension, it was with interest to see who Sam picked in place of the leading influence and goal scorer. In Stan's absence (through illness) Sam elected for Alan Moore to play in a wide left role in what was an otherwise unchanged side from the previous weeks mud wrestlers at Wigan.
Gills were boosted with a number of returning players, though former Claret Cox was still missing through injury. After losing the toss, Clarets played towards the Jimmy Mac end in the first forty five minutes. It would be kind to say the strong swirling wind and the bitter cold spoiled the play and no doubt the elements contributed to as dire a forty five minutes of supposed entertainment as witnessed at Turf Moor this season.
However, neither side could string two passes together and both goalkeepers were troubled more by the threat of hypothermia than opposing strikers, such was the poverty in the play. In what approached action, Hessenthaler, despite a considerable height disadvantage, beat Jensen to a cross on the quarter hour, but headed over in Gills best opportunity in the half.
Clarets struggled for the most part, looking sluggish all over the pitch and struggled to find any continuity or momentum. The outlets of Little and Alan Moore saw little in the way of forward play and in the case of Alan Moore, the eleven on his back represented the number of cans of WD-40 needed to remove the rustiness from his play, such was his lack of touch and contribution.
Agyemang, Gills' main threat, with his quick feet created a half chance ten minutes from the break, but his angled shot was straight into the grateful clutches of the Beast. Other than that Henderson headed straight at the Beast moments later and that was that from the Kent side.
For the Clarets, all there was to make Brown think in the visiting goal was a long range, hopeless effort from Ian Moore, hit more out of frustration than belief in a goal and this coming as late as three minutes from the break. It was therefore something of a relief that ref Danson brought matters to an end allowing more Cheerleaders onto the pitch than there were Kent fans in the visiting section. HT 0-0.
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Only three minutes in and Clarets were a little unlucky not to get their first meaningful shot on goal. Little's neat pass inside set up first Chaplow then Alan Moore, but both saw shots blocked in last ditch but good defending.
Good defending was also a trait of Grantona and in yet another impressive ninety minutes, his awareness kept Gills out after ten minutes after McGregor's misjudgement of a ball in the wind threatened to end the clean sheet sequence.
Cometh the hour, cometh a corner, yes it was still pretty mind numbing and even Hessenthaler's foul on Little failed to liven proceedings, the swirling crisp packets as entertaining as the game at this point, though the game did brighten up for the last half an hour.
May was a little unlucky to see a hooked shot hit the side netting. Ian Moore should have been more accurate with a volley when well placed, but his way ward effort did at least get the ball boys warm.
Half way through the half and Clarets should have taken the lead in their best move of the game. Little's great pass to the right wing found Grantona in lots of space, whose first time pass swept the ball back infield and into the path of Ian Moore who, from the edge of the area, did little more than keep his shot on target, Brown able to make an elementary save to his left, when in truth, he should have been picking the ball out.
In a game of few chances, it was sacrilege to miss from such a good and clear position. Twenty minutes from time, Grantona kept Jensen on his toes with a novel, lobbed back pass, such was the tightness of the situation, Jensen had to use his head to get the ball clear of the danger.
McGregor was again at fault, when misjudging a ball into the area and Clarets could be thankful to sub Wallace for a misplaced shot that flew wide of Jensen's upright, this the best chance for Gills in the game.
Eight minutes from time came the vital and winning goal. A great interception by Chaplow deep in Gills territory, allowed a pass inside to Wood who using a sand wedge approach, lofted the ball into the area.
Strangely, Gills centre backs left it and Little, having continued his run, saw an airborne flicked shot go through the legs of Brown and into the goal. Cue the Proclaimers celebration of Little's first goal of the season and what a vital goal it may prove to be.
The final few minutes saw Clarets rise in confidence, their collective efforts keeping Gills away from Jensen's goal. The Beast was called into action and his one and only save came two minutes from time, a solid left hand tipping Hope's close range effort over the bar, earning yet another clean sheet as Clarets earned their first double of the season. FT 1-0.
Att:- 10,571
Star Gazer
Alan Moore. Surely he didn't have the audacity to collect his win bonus after a sixty minute canter around the park. Most of the grey haired legends who completed their pre-match laps of honour expelled more energy than Al's hour of shirk and hide. At least this was one strip that didn't need the laundry after its airing.
Beer Money
In what was a must win game Clarets did win and that was all that really mattered today, so that a chink of daylight is maintained from the bottom three as the season enters its final third.
Star Geezer
Tony Grantona. Another fine display of midfield battling saw Grantona shine above the rising light of Chaplow and new man Wood. Grantona never does anything to really catch the eye, but increasingly of late he has silenced his critics with a run of games where strong, tidy and effective succeeds over the sublime and the spectacular.
Champagne Tastes
It was important to gain something from this game and without the inspiration of Blake it was never really going to be either easy or exhilarating. Still, the collective strength of the defence never really looked threatened as Clarets collected their third clean sheet in the last four league games.