Nothing changes for Clarets at Bramall Lane

Not that we didn’t help them with what has to have been the most inept display from a Burnley side since Steve Cotterill took over as manager in the summer of 2004. After the opening exchanges we were never at the races and certainly contributed to our own downfall by giving the ball away time after time.

It could be said that the midfield played poorly but that would be a little flattering on a day when for much of the game we looked nowhere near the required level in that department of the team and it is difficult to find anything positive to say about any one of the players who played there.

I don’t know why, maybe it was just the law of averages, but I actually thought we might get something for once at a ground where, Turf Moor apart, I’ve seen Burnley play more than anywhere else. I really should have known better to even think that we could.

There was one surprise for me ahead of kick off, I didn’t think there was any way that Frank Sinclair would move out of the centre of defence, certainly not after his performance at Southampton last week, but he did and occupied the left back position as a replacement for the suspended Jon Harley. Michael Duff and John McGreal were back, with Graham Branch missing out, whilst it was no surprise to see Nathan Dyer back at the expense of Wade Elliott.

Nothing much has changed there, the teams come out to the Star Wars theme, the home fans sing Annie’s song, and the obnoxious Neil Warnock takes his place on the touchline. And of course, there was to be no change in our fortunes there.

Predictably the home side were first out of the blocks and twice Brian Jensen had to be alert to stop them taking an early lead, but we were soon into the game and for a while were beginning to look the more accomplished side as we moved the ball around well in midfield.

Twice we got the ball out onto the right for Nathan Dyer but David Unsworth dealt with the situation in a way reminiscent of the great John Angus. Suffice to say he halted Dyer’s progress and apart from a couple of runs in the second half we were to see little of him.

We came close to going in front during this period, as Ade Akinbiyi moved on to a Garreth O’Connor pass down the left hand side and from a tight angle got in a shot that Paddy Kenny just about pushed round the post. It was a superb effort from Ade and on another day would have given us the lead.

It seemed to spur the home side into action and they started to get on top as we started to give the ball away far too cheaply with James O’Connor just about the biggest culprit. We started to come under pressure and you sensed the first goal wasn’t far away, and it wasn’t.

With just around half an hour gone the two home strikers combined for Neil Shipperley to hit a powerful shot into the top corner. We could hardly complain but within two minutes we were so close to drawing level after the Blades gave away a needless corner on our right.

Johnny Mac got his head to Garreth O’s corner which brought a top save from Kenny. It must have been very close to being over the line but Amy Rainer was well placed and there was no strong appeal.

The game could have been so different had that gone in but shortly afterwards is was really all but over when Webber headed in from close range following a left wing cross. It could have been even worse and we were pleased to get in at the break just two behind, leaving discussions in the away stand as to what we could possibly do to turn this round.

It was the same eleven who came out for the second half and we made a bright enough start, although we hardly troubled them apart from a couple of long range shots, including one from a free kick 35 yards out.

Sheffield United looked to have taken their foot off the pedal and appeared content to let us have the ball whilst seemingly doing little with it and after an hour Steve Cotterill decided to change things with a couple of substitutions that saw the introduction of Branchy and Gifton. It had no real effect, although Branchy had a couple of opportunities that he wasted.

We did give them one scare as the ball reached Ade in the box but as he struggled to get the ball down he shot over the bar but when the next goal did eventually come it was down at the other end in front of the magnificent Burnley fans.

Wade Elliott had just been introduced for Michael Duff and he got it all wrong down the right hand side which enabled them to get forward through Stretch Armstrong Junior. I don’t remember brother Gordon getting too many crosses in of this quality but it beat McGreal as Shipperley superbly dropped off him and his shot into the bottom corner beat the Beast who I don’t think had been called into action prior to that in the second half.

That was it now, and to be fair it really was a fair reflection of the game. The Burnley fans though, despite seeing defeat number six there in six years, backed the team right until the end. There was never going to be any way back though and you have to say, as a previous manager would have done, that we got what we deserved, nothing.

Did we play badly or did the home side play so well that they didn’t allow us to play? That’s a good question and I think there’s a bit of both in there. They did look a good side, as good as anything I’ve seen in this division this season, but I do suspect they will have come off the field thinking that they had had it easier than they expected.

Steve Cotterill must have been impressed with them, he stayed on the touchline to shake the hand of each and every one of the home players as they left the field.

I do tend to end my reports with a selection of man of the match, but there really isn’t one today, other than perhaps Jensen who did all that was asked of him, and he had no chance with the goals.

We need to get this one out of the system, I don’t think we will play that badly again this season, we need to be ready for the upwardly looking bad sportsman Adrian Boothroyd who brings his team to the Turf next week.

The teams were,

Sheffield United: Paddy Kenny, Leigh Bromby, Craig Short, Rob Kozluk, David Unsworth, Phil Jagielka, Alan Quinn (Chris Morgan 85), Nick Montgomery, Chris Armstrong (Michael Tonge 89), Neil Shipperley, Danny Webber (Paul Ifill 88). Subs not used: Phil Barnes, Vincent Pericard.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff (Wade Elliott 79), Keith Lowe, John McGreal, Frank Sinclair, Nathan Dyer, John Spicer (Gifton Noel-Williams 59), Micah Hyde, James O’Connor, Garreth O’Connor (Graham Branch 59), Ade Akinbiyi. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Danny Karbassiyoon.

Referee: Colin Webster (Shotley Bridge).

Attendance: 23,118.