That's Better!

Last updated : 05 April 2007 By Paul Coppack
Wade Elliott - Man of the Match
Burnley were back in action, to play the re-arranged fixture against Plymouth Argyle - and anything other than a win would put the Clarets closer towards the bottom three…

For this supporter, it seemed more appealing to stay at home watching repeats of England's recent European Club Qualifiers against Israel and Andorra - back to back - in slow motion, with Peter Schmeichel analyzing Paul Robinson's hair cut, rather than traveling to a gloomy Turf Moor on a Tuesday night - to watch a desperate Burnley side take on Plymouth Argyle.

Before Tuesday's encounter, it seemed a long time ago since Alan Mahon confidently slammed the fourth goal past a hopeless Norwich side, Andy Gray being tipped as a much better replacement for then-legendry Ade Akinbiyi and Kyle Lafferty running RK Sunderland ragged - and then being tipped as a much better replacement for the injured-then-legendry Andy Gray.

With the last victory back in November against Leeds United and with six new faces, the Clarets were ready to take on their next opponents who I suppose could look at Burnley as a bit of a bogey side.

Plymouth, who have pretty much cemented their place in next season's Championship made their pilgrimage to the North West on their two combine harvesters - eager to witness revenge from the relegation battle which saw Andy Cooke head Plymouth down into the Nationwide League Division Three in 1998.

But yet again, they were to be disappointed as they were to make the journey back to Devon with a four - nil defeat. Plymouth, playing in their traditional green home kit were overall poor, but I don't want to take anything away from this much improved Burnley performance which saw Michael Duff and Wade Elliott re-introduced into the starting XI and Ade Akinbiyi being placed on the bench.

Less than 10,000 applauded Steve Cotterill out from the tunnel, showing that the majority of the Turf Moor faithful were still backing him, despite the team's dreadful run of poor form, and the home crowd didn't have to wait long to be repaid.

In the opening stages Burnley, back in claret shorts and socks, showed some inventive passing moves featuring Wade Elliott and Eric Djemba-Djemba, early signs that Burnley were going to play like a team, rather than a bunch of strangers. Andy Gray had a header cleared off the line from an early Burnley corner, and then Steve Jones' follow-up went wide.

Paul McVeigh making his second appearance from his loan move from Norwich City was unlucky to be flagged offside after a neat through ball from the Clarets midfield which is finally beginning to take shape again. But it was on the right wing where Burnley looked more dangerous. Wade Elliott played in an excellent cross, and Steve Jones was there again had to make the Plymouth goalkeeper work.

Recently, Steve Cotterill's "unlucky" Burnley lads had only scored 1 goal in the previous six games, and the first goal came from an unlikely source coming on the 13th minute. Michael Duff raised highest to head home a Wade Elliott free kick to restore much needed confidence in the Burnley team. It was the Northern Irish international's 2nd goal of the season and the Clarets were hungry for more - and Duff's international teammates were to also get in on the action.

Burnley played very attacking minded, and now confidence was oozing. Andy Gray played an intelligent quick free kick to Paul McVeigh who went one-on-one with the Greens' keeper Luke McCormick, who stopped the shot - which went out for a corner.

Plymouth struggled to get past the Burnley defence, resorting to long-range efforts that didn't really trouble Brian Jensen. But The Beast unleashed a long ball forward which was flicked on by Andy Gray to Paul McVeigh who had a second chance of beating McCormick - which he did, calmly slipping past him, and slotting the ball past two helpless defenders putting the Clarets 2-0 up.

Everything clicked, Burnley were back, a self-assured Duff again attempting to barge McCormick into his goal after another Wade Elliott cross, and Brian Jensen even found time to showboat around an inadequate Barry Hayles.

Plymouth had very little to offer, I suppose the long throws from Tony Capaldi were as good as corners, however an improving Wayne Thomas dealt with every effort Plymouth could throw at him, Scott Sinclair used his blistering pace and flair - but with no final product.

However The Pilgrims did offer a good looking blonde physio, but I suppose where I sit in the Jimmy McIlroy Upper Tier, even Paul McVeigh looks like a good looking blonde diva too. But that was pretty much Argyle for the first half.

For most of the first half the match was flowing quite well, but with the half time whistle drawing nearer the game started to turn a little scrappy. Needless free kicks being conceded by both sides and the referee started blowing for everything, there was also a tedious game of head tennis, and then twice in quick succession there was a lack of communication between Jon Harley and Steven Caldwell - both going for the same ball.

But Burnley, still hungry for a 3rd trudged on, Steve Jones' low cross-come-shot was blocked, but his second effort flew beautifully into the top corner. This was a much-needed confidence-booster for Jones who had been criticised by Cotterill earlier on in the season for not showing enough quality in front of goal.

Andy Gray then looked to put Burnley 4-0 up, after another good though-ball from Djemba-Djemba, the Scotsman attempted to lob the advancing Luke McCormick, but his imaginative effort floated over the bar into the Cricket Field Stand.

At the half time whistle, Burnley left the field to rapturous applause by the home fans, it was like watching a different team compared to the shambles against Luton Town on the pervious Saturday. Even my half-time hotdog tasted better!

The second half started with Burnley pretty much on the back-foot, but the Longside continued to chant the name of Stevie Cotterill and his Claret & Blue Army.

Argyle's Scott Sinclair - on loan from Chelsea - continued to show off his potential, sometimes passing players like they weren't there, from time-to-time managed to get in a cross, but his efforts were usually dealt with comfortably by the solid Burnley defence.

But the Clarets were to fight back, the Pilgrims back four being made to work by a James O'Connor cross was then snatched at by Paul McVeigh from about 12 yards out in to the 'keepers arms, but this was to the delight of the home supporters, who were pleased to see that their team were not just sitting on their lead.

Plymouth's Akos Buzsaky had a free kick deflected after Eric Djemba-Djemba handled the ball just outside the Burnley penalty area, then Brian Jensen plucked the ball out the air from the resulting corner and played another quick long ball forward, the Burnley counter attack was poorly cleared and Wade Elliott collected from outside the 18-yard-box, he beat a Plymouth defender, ignoring Andy Gray's screams in the middle of the area, and he assertively placed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal post.

Game, Set and Match. The perfect response to his boss Steve Cotterill - who reportedly dropped Elliott on Saturday for "not scoring enough goals"!

With The Clarets now 4-0 up, Plymouth again resorted to long-range efforts, as they did at Home Park back in October. The Beast was behind every shot, and releasing the ball quickly to Jon Harley who advanced up the left wing before feeding the ball to Steve Jones - who used his twists and turns outside the penalty area - eventually finding room to shoot, but his blistering shot was parried away.

Cotterill - now taken off suicide watch - made a few changes, Chris McCann replaced James O'Connor and later Wade Elliott made way for Garreth O'Connor.

It was after Wade's departure the game turned rather dull; Elliott put in a super performance, a deserved man of the match contender.

With three points more-or-less wrapped up, Plymouth still attempted to get past a solid Burnley defence, Eric Djema-Djemba was deemed to have brought down Sylvan Ebanks-Blake which allowed Plymouth the chance to grab a consolation goal from the penalty spot.

The former Manchester United reserve team player stepped up to take the kick himself, but embarrassingly put the ball wide, which summed up Plymouth's performance.

Andy Gray who put in a tireless performance, his best since his return from injury - was replaced by Ade Akinbiyi who attempted to continually irritate the flapping Plymouth goalkeeper with his presence.

But Burnley let Plymouth play out the second half by soaking up their pressure, letting the men in green pass the ball around… well, when they could actually string a few passes together that is.

The Sponsors announced Steve Jones as The Man of The Match. He gave what the fans of Burnley Football Club expect from him, he was more involved, he got stuck in a lot more, and also he wasn't afraid to shoot. Scoring his first goal since September reminded everyone, and maybe himself, that he can finish.

But I think the player with the most impact had to be Wade Elliott, he ran the Plymouth defence ragged, the free kick he delivered to Michael Duff was inch perfect and the goal which wrapped everything up was taken so coolly, one would think he is a regular goal scorer, he was part of everything and gave the fans that bit of excitement when he ran forwards, so my Man Of the Match goes to him.

It was great to see a win again… finally, and to see it in that fashion was a relief, a reminder that Burnley do have decent players, who can put in a good team display. Everything about the performance was one hundred times better than Saturday and the much-needed three points lifted The Clarets further away from the bottom three. Who said we were in a relegation battle anyway?