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And so to Saturday, when Stoke City were the visitors in the first of back-to-back home games. The Potters turned out in numbers and it was good to have a bit of atmosphere for the second game running, even if it meant we had to endure the frankly tiresome renditions of, "Delilah" which were aired with wearisome regularity in the Cricket Field Stand. Have they no other songs?
The first incident of note occurred before a ball had even been kicked. Andy Cooke, a tremendous servant for the club during his time here, was afforded a wonderful reception by the overwhelming majority of the crowd. The only other ex-Claret I can remember being welcomed back so warmly was Steve Davis, during his ill-fated spell with Luton Town.
Stan Ternent made no changes to the side which so comprehensively dumped Blackpool out of the Worthington Cup, sticking with Blake and Moore up front as Taylor and Papadopoulos had to make do with a place on the subs bench. The Clarets had the better of the opening exchanges with Glen Little having an all but certain goal deflected away for a corner, and Lee Briscoe, having his worst game of the season, somehow contriving to blaze over from a yard, when it seemed impossible to do anything but score.
But the home side didn’t have it all their own way. Andy Cooke did exactly what it said on the tin. He was a constant menace to the Burnley backline who never had a moment’s rest whilst he was on the pitch. His substitution midway through the second half may have prompted a sigh of relief from Cox and Gnohere. And Marlon Beresford did his very best to inspire fear in his defenders by flapping at crosses, rather than coming to collect them cleanly. Yet the first half finished 0-0.
Burnley hadn’t played at all badly in the opening 45 minutes, but Stan Ternent clearly was not completely happy with the display. Off came McGregor and Blake and in their place came Alan Moore and Gareth Taylor. It would be fair to say that the changes did not have the desired effect immediately. If anything it was the visitors who had the bulk of possession and created most opportunities. Marlon Beresford needed to be at his agile best to pull off a terrific save when a certain goal looked on the cards midway through the second half.
Stoke’s pressure eventually told. And on 74 minutes, the Potters broke upfield as Burnley’s midfield stood and watched in admiration. The initial shot was deflected away, but Beresford was beaten as an unmarked Gudjonnson fired the visitors ahead.
The Clarets didn’t have to wait too long for an equaliser. Sixty seconds later, Burnley won a corner. From Alan Moore’s cross, King Arthur was on hand to nod the Clarets level, his header leaving Neil Cutler clutching at thin air. The timing of his strike and his subsequent hilarious celebrations immediately silenced the visitors’ rendition of, "Delilah". As a friend put it, "They stood there laughing, they saw the ball in their net, and they laughed no more."
With the crowd right behind them and the visitors fading fast, Ternent sensed it was time to move in for the kill. Enter Dimi Papadopoulos. Burnley turned the screw. A Gareth Taylor header smacked the base of the post. Ian Moore’s turn and shot flew narrowly over the crossbar. City were living on borrowed time.
Glen Little, back to something near his best, was by now exerting a vice-like grip on the game. With time running out, Johnrose took on and beat what seemed like all of the Stoke midfield and fed Little, who delivered a fantastic cross. Papa was not ideally positioned to get to the ball, but like all great strikers was prepared to kill himself to get there.
Straining every sinew in his tiny frame, Dimi somehow managed to get to the ball and direct it into exactly the same place as Arthur had done eight minutes earlier. Three sides of Turf Moor went up in jubilation. One side started to slink off. They didn’t miss much after that, the only incident of note coming shortly after the goal. Tommy Mooney, on loan from Birmingham City, did nothing to endear himself to the travelling supports or his temporary employers when he earned himself a red card for stamping on Tony Grant in an outrageous fit of pique.
Full time brought a huge roar of appreciation from the crowd, as the Clarets were warmly applauded from the field. With three consecutive wins under their belt, Burnley now go into Tuesday’s game against Millwall brimming with confidence. Here’s hoping the winning run can be extended with a fourth victory.