There's no defence for no defence

Last updated : 05 April 2004 By David Clark

Star Geezer - Robbie Blake
It typified the type of frustrating team Clarets currently are in the bid to avoid the relegation mire. After recent solid displays of fine goalkeeping and competent defending, this was at times pantomime stuff, with defenders and keeper constantly between decisions, allowing Naarch to claim one of their easiest and probably strangest wins of the season.

With Weller replacing Chaplow and Roche in for the injured West, Clarets took the game to their high flying visitors from the off in what was a very entertaining and absorbing first half.

Camara and Weller combined well in only the second minute and after Camara's neat pull back, Wood should have done better than side foot straight at Green, but the lead did come after only five minutes.

Good refereeing from Mr Hall, awarded a free kick from which Wood made no mistake drilling a low shot around the wall and deceiving Green for his first goal in Clarets colours.

Clarets early play was a joy to watch and quick passes down the channels were causing Canaries defenders many a problem, none more so than Blake's delightfully weighted pass to Ian Moore only for an alert Green to dash out and collect the unclaimed ball.

Before Clarets could settle on the lead Naarch were level. Poor defending by Branch saw him dummied in the area by Svensson, the loan man then able to shoot low under Jensen via a deflection off May, sending Canaries large following off their perches in delight.

Clarets continued to threaten, Naarch continued to struggle in the half and looked anything but league
leaders, their play often untidy. Svensson was adjudged offside when finishing off a neat move on the half hour as Clarets rearguard survived another disorganised scare.

On the half hour Clarets did regain the lead, this time poor defending pointed at Canaries rearguard, Blake's far post corner being bundled home by May claiming his fifth goal of the season.


Before the clock could tick on one minute Naarch were once again level. Only Branch and Jensen know what went on or not, as was the case, when a harmless ball into the area was not dealt with allowing Huckerby to nip between them and despatch a shot from the tightest of angles for equaliser number two.

With Stan rushing across his technical area in annoyance and fans shouting various forms of "encouragement" the game recommenced with both sets of fans exchanging sarcastic chants.

Star Gazer 1 - Graham Branch
Wood tried to restore the lead with a good shot skimming Green's bar, before Clarets again took the
lead only six minutes later. A long ball forwards was flicked on by Little and Blake despatched a powerful shot from just inside the area that gave Green no chance for goal number twenty one from the man in form and you're not chirping anymore as 2,000 canaries retook their perches.

So on to half time and seven minutes without a goal as Clarets fans began to think of bonus points and that, as Naarch had never won in fifteen visits to Turf Moor, the statistic was going to remain. HT 3-2.

All the half time positives were soon to become negatives as Clarets turned in a desperately poor second half display and in truth once Naarch drew level, there only ever looked to be one winner.

Huckerby's crossed free kick six minutes in was more in hope than anything else, yet Jensen punched
thin air with his eyes firmly closed allowing McKenzie the simplest of headed finishes and to everyone in yellow's surprise by the ease of the goal, the scores were once again levelled.

Grant and Little combined well and if Clarets had a striker, 4-3 would have resulted but the superb cross
went unfinished.

By the hour mark, Naarch were looking comfortable and took the lead for the first time in the game. Huckerby finally got away from Roche before laying a pass to Drury and as three defenders failed to close down his good cross to the near post was firmly planted into the top corner by an unmarked Svensson.

Star Gazer 2 - Brian Jensen
May was very unlucky to see his downward header bounce over the bar as Clarets briefly threatened to recover, but from that point forwards, Clarets looked a bedraggled outfit bereft of any cutting edge again and with two well organised lines of yellow between Green and his counter attacking strikers, Naarch began to look like league leaders and fortuitously allowed to remain with eleven on the field after Huckerby's elbow into the face of Weller was punished only with a yellow card award.


Chadwick replaced the disappointing Weller and Chaplow came on for Wood after Mulryne had replaced McKenzie, with Branch now moved from the chaos in defence to try and create chaos up front, a move that failed miserably as Clarets chased the game.

Chadwick should have equalised ten minutes from time, but could only scoop over after great footwork from Blake created the clear cut chance.

Bizarrely, Alan Moore replaced Grant and with now three wingers on the field plus a defender switched to a striking role, Clarets play was as disjointed as the teams new look formation.

Still a late chance fell to Clarets, as Green dropped Blake's cross, but with both IMoore and Branch asleep to the prospect of a half chance the keeper was easily allowed to save further embarrassment.

Blake's low shot was also gathered up by Green before Chaplow entered Mr Hall's memoirs from the day for a petty foul.

There were still chances being created by Naarch and Jensen like, Green minutes earlier, was allowed to recover the ball after dropping a harmless cross.

His embarrassment though was not yet complete and Naarch made it five when Huckerby toe poked home two minutes from the whistle, once again Clarets sloppy in allowing balls to be played in from both wings in the build up to the final goal giving Naarch their first ever victory at Turf Moor.

The dismal second half needs to be quickly forgotten as Clarets begin a run of three key games against sides in the lower reaches and defending needs to be top of the training agenda in the coming few days.

Att:- 12,417

Star Gazers

Graham Branch & Brian Jensen. A comedy of errors between centre half and goalkeeper gifted Naaarch three equalisers. The least said the better.

Beer Money

Whilst the manager has been quick to praise the defence of late this was a lax, shoddy defensive performance and one most certainly to forget. All the good work by the forwards in the first half was undone by a defence that simply forgot how to defend throughout the game. Here's hoping the defenders sort themselves out in time for Easter.

Star Geezer

Robbie Blake. Another day of sublime skills and a talent that can create space in the tightest of situations. Oh and goal number twenty one for the season, clinically despatched late in what was an entertaining
first half.

Champagne Tastes

The bubbly a bit flat after this one, but one ray of light coming from the game was the forward play from Glen Little and Robbie Blake. A little quality goes a long, long way and the vast majority of the good approach play came via the feet of these two.