Then Sean Dyche collects the manager of the month award, Danny Ings gets a fully deserved England U21call up; it all points to a Burnley defeat, doesn’t it?
The answer to that was a resounding “no”. Burnley produced an absolutely fantastic performance against a Reading team, unbeaten in 6 and one of the pre-season favourites for promotion. 2-1 gives the indication of a close run game but, trying not to look through Claret tinted “specs”, this was far from a close run battle.
The game started at quite a pace with both teams attempting to make an early stamp on possession. The first real action came with a crude challenge on Michael Duff by Jobi McAnuff in the fourth minute. Although I thought the referee, Michael Jones, had a good game I was slightly surprised at him not showing a yellow card for the late foul. I think the timing within the game saved McAnuff.
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| The win was in sight when Sam Vokes scored to make it 2-0 |
The next 10 minutes were slightly to and fro, Burnley winning a couple of corners but not testing the Reading keeper but then the breakthrough the Clarets fans were wanting came. Trippier played one of his trademark crosses in to the box which, in all honesty, should have been dealt with by the Reading centre half. Only he will know why he failed to clear the ball but it fell extremely nicely for Ings who slotted home from 8 yards. This was the goal we needed to settle the nerves. We could push on now knowing we had edged the lead.
The goal was followed by two more chances, an effort from Jones which the keeper spilled with Vokes homing in then an Arfield header which drifted just wide. It wasn’t all one way however, a great tackle by Duff moments later denied Pogrebnyak a clear strike on goal then Heaton made a routine save from Obita (a player who was one of those who, earlier, managed to “win” a free kick from a Marney challenge. When I say challenge I mean Obita saw it coming and dropped his legs before any contact was made hence the booing he received throughout the remainder of the game).
As half time approached Ings really should have given us a 2 nil lead. Good pressure from Kightly forced Reading to lose the ball in their own half, our in form number 10 found himself with an immense amount of space and decided to shoot early but put it wide of McCarthys' goal. There was just enough time for McAnuff to pick up a yellow card for a foul on Kightly before Jones blew his whistle.
So half time was reached at 1 nil to the Clarets but, perhaps greedily, I felt we should have had a couple more. The half time chat was on the lines of "we will still have to watch this Reading side" and "one goal is always a nervous lead against this type of "quality"" but pleased at what we had seen so far.
The second half witnessed some sublime Burnley attacking. Early on Ings broke through, laid a lovely ball off to Arfield who had space on the edge of the area. His right foot effort was saved once again by McCarthy. Within the next couple of minutes it was hard to keep making notes on my phone and watch the action the speed at which chances were occurring. Jones had another shot saved which was quickly followed by the McCarthy save of the match. A corner was sent over which Duff did well to head back across goal, Ings was there for his second, or that's what we thought. From my seat in the Jimmy McIlroy stand there was no way the keeper would save from close range but he somehow managed to tip the ball over. It was starting to feel as though the second and decisive goal was not going to come.
Burnley teams of the past (when I say past I'm talking the last couple of seasons!) would have lost or drawn this game. It was a typical "missed so many chances" match that we would obviously not win it. We needed that second. We needed to relax as soon as we could. We were the better team.
Good refereeing saw advantage played when Blackman made a late challenge, the Reading player receiving a deserved booking when the next break in play happened.
The chances kept coming, great work from Vokes once again provided Ings who forced another save from McCarthy. Shortly after Ings shot over once again. Our Danny really should have had a hat trick by this time but we will forgive him.
Finally the hard work and creative play we had produced paid dividend. Ings played a lovely threaded ball to Sam and he slotted the ball under McCarthy. The Turf went ballistic, the win was in sight and we really could celebrate a brilliant win. This was the 2 goal lead that wrapped the 3 points up for us. Surely?
Reading thought different and got down our right hand side straight away. I thought the cross was too deep but the header back across goal was enough to cause Shackell to nudge it past Heaton. I must admit I couldn't believe we were back to a one goal advantage. This game should have been dead and buried but Reading were going to make the last few minutes a tense affair. There was another chance for the visitors but Heaton collected easily.
Finally, Jones blew the final whistle. The Turf erupted for another deserved victory. The second half had created a number of chances and the crowd had got involved creating a vibrant atmosphere. We could see the players celebrate. Dyche applauded the crowd but it was the players who had provided a superb performance. This was a total performance. "Our" team has an unbelievable togetherness, they know they need to help each other and they carry out their duties efficiently.
Any Burnley fan who need tempting to come down to support this "group" just need to see one game. They are an absolute pleasure to watch, create many, many chances and look extremely organised. I am loving Dyche's influence on this team and, injury/suspension permitting, you just never know.
What an amazing last few days to be a Clarets fan.