Too little too late from the Clarets at Deepdale

Once again the Clarets defence imploded as PNE, and in particular the Jamaican livewire Ricardo Fuller, gave them a torrid time. Having enjoyed a twelve game unbeaten run during which they got within two points of a play-off place, Burnley are slowly slipping down the table, with the goals against column taking a rare old hammering.

Following the defensive horror-show at Grimsby, Mark McGregor made way for Ian Cox who was hauled off the treatment table to try and stiffen up our flimsy backline. The midfield department saw Glen Little restored to the starting line-up. Infuriatingly, he was deployed on the left hand side, much to the annoyance of Burnley’s supporters. Glen on the left is a none-starter for most fans and the first half showed just why as the winger struggled to make any impact on the game.

Having gone behind to an early strike at Blundell Park, it was essential that the Clarets keep things nice and tight for the first twenty minutes if only to take the edge off the atmosphere. Oops. With just four minutes on the clock, North End struck. A weak back header from Arthur Gnohere fell into the path of Ricardo Fuller who laid the ball off to Eddie Lewis. From Lewis’ return ball, the Reggae Boy found himself unmarked in a space roughly the size of Middlesex. He needed no second bidding to ram the ball home past a blameless Beresford.

On nine minutes came another hammer blow. Ian Cox injured himself stretching for a ball and was unable to continue. Burnley re-organised, Steve Davis slotting in at centre-half whilst Tony Grant replaced The Skip in midfield. Preston went on to dominate the remainder of the half. On 11 minutes Fuller’s knock-down was deflected over by Dickson Etuhu, as Burnley struggled to match Preston.

It took the Clarets the best part of 30 minutes to launch a meaningful attack. They won their first corner on 26 minutes, but Arthur’s header was easily held by David Lucas in the North End goal. At the other end, Lewis’ free-kick was slipped to Graham Alexander who unleashed a shot which was Marlon had to get his body behind.

On 39 minutes Lewis was at it again, feeding Richard Cresswell whose left foot shot went wide of Marlon’s post. Moments later deep concern was etched on the faces of the travelling contingent as Beresford stayed down after Fuller appeared to catch Marlon with his boot, as the keeper pounced on a loose ball. Happily after a few minutes with the smelling salts, he was able to continue.

Towards the end of the half, Burnley rallied. Great feet from the excellent Robbie Blake sent over a cross for Ian Moore who headed wide. On the stroke of half-time, Ian Moore returned the favour playing in Robbie Blake. Blake rounded the keeper but was foiled by Rob Edwards who managed to scramble Blake’s goal-bound effort off the line.

The second half saw Burnley emerge with more purpose in their stride as they took the game to their hosts. Just six minutes in and Burnley were level. Blake released Little, now thankfully restored to the right wing, whose deep cross was returned by Davis for Taylor to finish with a routine header. Game on. Unfortunately this was the cue for about 100 clowns to invade the pitch. With the Clarets in the ascendancy this was the last thing we needed as it gave Preston the opportunity to re-group, and compose themselves. Eventually, the pitch was cleared of cretins and the game got underway. The remainder of the half saw around 100 riot police and stewards stationed behind the Preston goal. These are not ideal conditions in which to watch football. That these pictures were being beamed into homes and pubs up and down the country only doubled the embarrassment factor.

Burnley piled the pressure on. Ian Moore beat two men inside the area but blazed over from 6 yards. Then on 61 minutes, Blake sent a left foot effort over the bar. But for all Burnley’s pressure, it was PNE who made the breakthrough. Fuller broke down the right and chipped a ball back across the face of goal. Paul McKenna was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Burnley ploughed on, and on 64 minutes Blake played a slide rule pass to Ian Moore who was denied by Lucas. Then cane the killer blow On 66 minutes, the excellent Fuller found himself unmarked in the box. His deflected shot looped over Marlon to make the score 3-1. North End were home and dry. The third goal saw some action on the bench as Briscoe was replaced by Alan Moore and Ian Moore made way for Dimi.

The game threatened to peter out over the next 15 minutes, but Robbie Blake kept going for the Clarets. On 82 minutes he forced a diving save from Lucas, Rob Edwards clearing Dimi’s follow-up. Minutes later Blake was again denied by the outstanding Lucas. The last meaningful action of the game saw Beresford make a fine one handed save to prevent Richard Cresswell’s low cross reaching the unmarked David Healy.

All in all Burnley got what they deserved from this game. Having failed to show up in the first half, they produced too little too late.