Somewhere in the middle

Although nothing is mathematically certain, the win against Watford on Saturday made sure we would not be in a relegation dog fight at the end of the season, even if we lose all the remaining games. The defeat against West Ham has made it all but certain we won’t make the play offs, and that’s if all the remaining games are won.

It’s not an end of season review but we know now which league we will be playing our football in and it won’t be against Rotherham and the way things are going it isn’t likely to be against Sunderland either.

The defeat against West Ham came against a side who are fighting for the play offs, and a side that has now beaten us 1-0 twice this season although I am not convinced they are that much better than us.

Steve Cotterill sprung something of a surprise with a recall for Danny Coyne, his first Turf Moor appearance since the defeat against Derby County back in October. He was in goal behind an otherwise unchanged side from the one that won against Watford.

The first half was enjoyable and pretty even although West Ham always looked as though they might just have the edge. They certainly came closest to scoring and twice Coyne did well to save from Marlon Harewood on more than one occasion.

It was more routine stuff for former Walsall keeper James Walker at the other end and he only had to deal with a couple of headers and a half hit shot as Burnley, despite a fair amount of the play, did struggle to create any real clear cut openings.

Probably our best chance of the half came right at the end when a John Oster cross looked set to give Ade Akinbiyi a chance for his first home goal for the Clarets but Dean Bowditch nipped in front of him and headed it away from Ade.

I thought 0-0 was just about right at half time but after a quiet spell at the start of the second half it was the Clarets who looked to step it up a bit. Graham Branch challenged Brian Deane for best miss of the season when he hit a right footed shot from the left hand side that went out for a throw on the right.

Gary Cahill made a superb run but as he broke into the box and looked set to shoot Akinbiyi got in his way.

Down at the other end Coyne had again to be alert to keep out Harewood whilst Teddy Sheringham came within inches twice with low shots from around twenty yards.

Micah Hyde - good game in midfield

A tremendous run down the left from the otherwise disappointing Camara came to nothing but then with less than ten minutes on the clock we should have won it. In many ways it was reminiscent of the second goal on Saturday as Akinbiyi got past his defender down the right hand side as he run on to a pass from Micah Hyde.

He placed the ball for James O’Connor who made a real hash of his shot from just inside the box and the chance had gone. Steve Cotterill said he wouldn’t score again for months, perhaps he was right.

It got worse than that though a couple of minutes later when a dreadful mistake from John Oster brought the Hammers their winner. His back pass was woefully short and was picked up by Marlon Harewood.

The West Ham striker, who was lucky to have got away with two diving offences, should really have scored. He looked as though he might mess it up but found Sheringham who had the simple task of knocking the ball in.

We never really threatened an equaliser and after four minutes of stoppage time added by referee Kevin Friend, who had a shocking game, it was all over and brought with it a sixth home defeat of the season.

We’ve certainly played better this season and there was certainly a lack of clear cut chances and that according to far too many Burnley supporters was all down to one player – Graham Branch.

This has got beyond a joke now, and if you were one of those supporters booing him last night or cheering when he was substituted you should be hanging your head in shame. Do you honestly think it is doing the player any good at all?

We should be wanting EVERY Burnley player on the pitch to do as well as possible and singling one out for abuse like that will not help him, will have an adverse effect on his performance, which will in turn have an adverse effect on the team’s performance.

If you support Burnley then that means you support every player on the pitch during those ninety minutes. It was disgusting.

To end on a better note, I thought Micah Hyde was our best player on the night but for once my choice as man of the match has to go to a member of the opposition and that was Edward Sheringham who turned in a quality performance. It was just that should they win that he got the goal.

We’re off to see an old friend at the weekend so let’s get back to winning ways.

The teams were,

Burnley: Danny Coyne, Frank Sinclair (Tony Grant 87), Gary Cahill, John McGreal, Mo Camara, John Oster (Jean-Louis Valois 83), Micah Hyde, James O’Connor, Graham Branch (Michael Duff 75), Dean Bowditch, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Lee Roche.

West Ham: James Walker, Tomas Repka, Elliott Ward, Anton Ferdinand, Chris Powell, Shaun Newton, Nigel Reo-Coker, Hayden Mullins (Carl Fletcher 76), Mark Noble (Matthew Etherington 76), Marlon Harewood (Bobby Zamora 85), Teddy Sheringham. Subs not used: Stephen Bywater, Gavin Williams.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicester).

Attendance: 12,209.