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It did anything but that against a Gillingham side that for the fourth time in under two years arrived without every giving a hint that they might be trying to win the game.
We knew it was going to be difficult to replace Robbie Blake, we are certainly no one man team but to lose his inspiration was always going to be a blow. Stan (or was it Sam in Stan’s absence) opted for Alan Moore.
The Irishman returned to the starting line up two weeks ago against the Gills but didn’t even make the 16 last week at Wigan so it was something of a surprise that he got the nod over Luke Chadwick or even new loan signing Bradley Orr.
Those two, along with goalkeeper Paul Rachubka, Dean West and the fit again Paul Weller took the bench places with club captain Graham Branch unable to find anything but a seat in the stand.
We were forced into defending the Cricket Field End in the first half, never our chosen option, but it was soon evident that Gillingham weren’t here for a game of football but to once again spoil. Certainly their own fans now seem to have sussed this one out with very few bothering to make the journey to East Lancashire for a second time.
Two weeks ago the cup tie got off to a poor start with little happening before went in front, this time the goals didn’t come and the first half was as bad as anything we had seen on the Turf since winning promotion.
It was truly dire stuff and there is no recollection of ever really troubling Gills’ keeper Jason Brown. Not as though Brian Jensen had any more to do, in fact did he have anything to do?
Maybe he did, he caught a shot hit straight at him from Patrick Agyemang who consistently fails to suggest to me he is anywhere near good enough to play at this level.
It was no real surprise that it was goalless at half time when the break saw one of the former players from the parade, John Angus, out on the pitch again to make the half time draw. I think it is very possible that today was the first time the England international full back had been on the Turf Moor pitch since his testimonial match back in 1973.
Out we came for the second half with no changes to the line up but we did start to get more of the ball and attack Gillingham more although we seemed unable to create anything resembling a clear chance.
There was a pin ball session in the box when we could have got a few shots in and then a Gills’ defender headed away superbly following a right wing cross.
Finally the chance came when the inspirational Tony Grant set up Ian Moore but the keeper superbly saved his shot from just inside the box.
By now the discussions started as to when we last had a 0-0 draw at home and when we last drew successive league games 0-0, a goal seemed so unlikely. The answers by the way are 1) Millwall Dec 2001 and 2) Bristol Rovers and Oldham both at home in Aug/Sep 1997.
With twenty minutes to go Sam made his one substitution of the afternoon and one that was greeted with great delight by the home support when Luke Chadwick replaced Alan Moore.
It is fair to say that Moore had not played well but the reaction of the crowd was shameful, no wonder some players struggle at times to play well at home. This was no cheer for Chadwick but a rousing cheer because Moore was going off.
But just as the wind got stronger and the temperatures dropped further we got the most important thing of the afternoon – a goal.
It was all started by Richard Chaplow who surged forward before picking out Neil Wood. His cross was met somehow by Glen Little who managed to get the ball past Brown and into the net.
After a check that there was no flag flying from the assistant the new Claret & Blue flags emerged Bolton style to celebrate the goal, Glen’s first since March last year at Walsall.
At this point Gillingham decided to go forward and almost immediately were robbed of an equaliser when Jensen tipped over a header that looked bound for the top corner of the net to his left. This was an even better save than it looked, he had been redundant for much of the half other than an incredible header out from a back pass.
Gillingham huffed and puffed and won a few corners but when Paul Danson blew his final whistle they got what they deserved to take back to Kent, absolutely nothing.
I’m sure I’ve heard Stan in the past say after an unfortunate defeat that we would play worse and win, well today was that day. It really was very poor entertainment.
We need the points though and we got three of them for the first time since beating Sheffield United at the beginning of December. It was even better with the news that none of the five teams below us won with the bottom three all losing.
It gives us some daylight and the points were deserved because we were the better side and we did have some good individual performances.
Goalkeeper Brian Jensen had very little to do but made that one outstanding save, David May played well at the back whilst Ian Moore run his socks off for little reward up front.
But there could only be one Man of the Match and that was Tony Grant who was outstanding in midfield. It appears that a few more are now catching on to the fact that Grant has been playing well, the announcement that he was the sponsors’ best player was this time greeted with genuine applause. He will be badly missed when we finally play another game, wherever it is.
Three points is just what we wanted but next time can we please have them with a slightly better performance and certainly in better conditions and a raising of the temperature.
Today’s teams were,
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche, David May, Mark McGregor, Mo Camara, Glen Little, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Neil Wood, Alan Moore (Luke Chadwick 70), Ian Moore. Subs not used: Paul Rachubka, Dean West, Bradley Orr, Paul Weller.
Gillingham: Jason Brown, Kevin James, Barry Ashby, Chris Hope, Leon Johnson, Andy Hessenthaler, Paul Smith, Alan Pouton (Mark Saunders 78), Danny Spiller (Richard Rose 84), Darius Henderson (Rod Wallace 68), Patrick Agyemang. Subs not used: Danny Knowles, Darren Beckwith.
Referee: Paul Danson (Leicester).