More goals at Gigg Lane

Last updated : 26 August 2004 By Tony Scholes

Robbie Blake - two goals including one from the penalty spot
There was much debate before the game that manager Steve Cotterill might give some of the younger players an opportunity but that proved not to be the case and it was once again an unchanged side that lined up against the League Two side for a match that always seems to provide lots of goals - we weren't let down.

It got off to a bright start with goalmouth action at both ends with the Clarets trying to get the ball to feet whilst Bury were looking to hit their forwards with high balls into the box, a ploy that was soon to stand them in good stead.

The home side took the lead in the twelfth minute from a corner that was needlessly given away by Richard Chaplow. It was taken by former Preston player Brian Barry-Murphy and it found the head of Dwayne Mattis (or was it Dave Nugent) who headed home. Mattis was claiming it but it was Nugent who got the header in. Not as though we really care.

Five minutes later and Mattis definitely found the net. We won three successive corners and from the last of them Robbie Blake swung it in from the left, it was not obvious exactly what Mattis was trying to do but he certainly succeeded in putting the ball through his own goal.

Incredibly, within a minute, Bury were back in front and again it was a set piece delivery from Barry-Murphy. This time it was a free kick and Dave Challinor got to it ahead of Michael Duff to head into the top corner giving Danny Coyne no chance.

The big Burnley following was stunned, behind once was one thing but conceding two goals in a game was not supposed to be on the menu any longer.


There were a couple of scares but we started to get on top and when Robbie found the rampaging Mo Camara down the left he was brought down by Bury’s Paul Scott for as clear a penalty as you will ever see.

Robbie made no mistake, hitting it to the keeper’s right and that enabled us to go into the half time break level with the score at 2-2 although Bury almost forced a third in stoppage time but Danny Coyne made a good stop.

We started the second half brightly and seven minutes in we went in front for the first time. Graham Branch and Camara linked well down the left with Branchy sending Mo on his way. He went past two defenders before getting to the line and hitting a cross beyond the far post.


Robbie was there to turn and volley home from close range after the cross had eluded the Shakers’ keeper Glynn Garner.


If we thought that it was going to be easy from now it was certainly not the case as Bury, aided by a referee who could only apparently point one way, threatened on a number of occasions with balls flashing across our box causing us some real problems.


But we almost put it beyond their reach with the best move of the game as Chappy put Duff clear down the right. His ball across was met by Ian Moore whose shot was inches wide.

Bury pushed forward more and more and we certainly had some worrying moments before the referee finally brought it all to an end with thankfully the Clarets through with a 3-2 win.


This was not an inspired performance by the Clarets but it was a win that sees us into the next round. Steve Cotterill bemoaned our luck on Saturday and said if things evened themselves out we would get some luck and win one when we didn’t play well. That came tonight.

Having looked so solid at the back in the first four league games we found ourselves looking somewhat less secure at the back against a lower division side.


We shouldn’t worry though, a quick look tonight will show that Brighton, Gillingham, Wigan, Derby, Stoke and Plymouth have all gone out tonight. We will be in the draw for the next round tomorrow night.

I certainly wouldn’t swap places with any of those six clubs as the Clarets unbeaten start to the season now stretches to five games.


The teams were,

Bury: Glyn Garner, Simon Whaley (Jon Newby 75), Tom Kennedy, Paul Scott, Dave Challinor, Lee Unsworth, Dwayne Mattis, Dave Flitcroft, Brian Barry-Murphy (Terry Dunfield 45), Dave Nugent, Chris Porter. Subs not used: Lee Duxbury, John Cartledge, Greg Smith.


Burnley:
Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Ian Moore, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Micah Hyde (Lee Roche 65), Graham Branch, Robbie Blake. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Matt O’Neill, Joel Pilkington, Ryan Townsend.

Referee: Nigel Miller (County Durham).


Attendance:
3,648.