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Before the match Stan had described the game as the biggest in his 4 years in charge and with the chasing pack advancing there really was no room for any slip-ups. In the end the Clarets were convincing winners in a type of match where we have dropped far too many points in the second half of the season.
On a day of more strange Burnley weather, warm sunshine and an icy wind, no one seemed to know quite what to wear so we had the bizarre sight of fans dressed in t-shirts sat next to those equipped for a polar expedition.
Playing with the wind in the first half Lee Briscoe got things going by hitting a great curling ball in behind the defence for DJ to run onto but his shot from a narrowing angle went across the face of goal. In terms of goalmouth action that was probably it until shortly before half time when the Clarets might have scored three.
In the intervening period the match developed into a bit of a stalemate though the Gills twice came close firstly when former Claret loan player Paul Shaw lobbed just wide and then on the break Glen Little did superbly well to track back to do just enough to force Onura to shoot wide.
Little thought he had scored at the other end when some neat passing released DJ who chipped to the far post but Glen's goal bound volley was charged down. As time ran out at the end of the first period both Davis and DJ might have done better with headers but, lacking any real power, Brown in the Gillingham goal grabbed them both on the line.
The beginning of the second half was a crucial period and just when it looked like we were showing signs of nervous frustration the fans managed to string a few songs together. Before long the Clarets had scored.
In the corner of the pitch where he has been most effective (Bob Lord-Jimmy Mac) Glen performed one of his old tricks that we haven't seen for a while and skipped past 2 players in one movement. He dinked in a cross to the far post where the mother of all goal mouth scrambles ensued. There was that much sand in the area it looked like a children's game on the beach as attackers and defenders took turns to hack at the ball until Kevin Ball emerged from the sea to force it home. The announcer gave it to Ian Moore but I was closer than he was and I say it was Bally's goal.
With the crowd really on form now the Clarets made it 2-0 five minutes later with what I thought was a breathtaking goal. Steve Davis brought the ball out of defence and played a nice and simple ball into DJ in a central position about 30 yards out.
As Robbie said ‘I've got the gift, gotta stick in the goal, it's time to move your body.' and move his body is just what DJ did. After beating Ashby for pace he slammed home a shot from a tight angle into the far corner before whipping his shirt off in celebration.
‘Kickin' with your Torso, boys getting high, and girls even more so.' as Robbie put it. Has any other loan player had such an immediate impact in front of goal?
True to type the Clarets then looked to consolidate and the main chances fell to Davis and Arthur who took it in turns to advance forward over the half way line with the ball. First Davis performed a typically English blast over the bar whilst Arthur went for a more Gallic style chip, which curled only inches wide with Brown beaten. It would have brought the house down if it had gone in.
Gillingham rarely threatened and it took until the 89th minute for them to register their first shot on target, which Nik gathered well low down. The Clarets had done the job though and were content to play out time for a vital 3 points.
DJ was my man of the match by some distance and he received a thunderous standing ovation when replaced by Gareth Taylor for the last 15 minutes. No one really had a bad game and I thought the Clarets looked stronger at the back with Mitchell Thomas at left back. Lee Briscoe looked less convincing in midfield but he certainly gives more defensive strength to the left than Alan Moore does. Barring injuries this is the team I would stick with until the end of the season, whenever that may be.
The last word goes to Robbie though in what could be a nervous time ahead for the Clarets ‘When's it gonna stop DJ, cos you're keeping me up all night.'