Tractor Boys plough with Bent furrow

Seven proved unlucky for Frank Sinclair, the minute in which he hobbled off to join the ever increasing injury list. With Duff sitting this one out due to suspension, Branch returned to the back line in the enforced reshuffle with Sanokho getting the nod from the bench.

Town hit the bar from a well struck free kick, before Duffy almost got the opener. Intercepting just outside the Town box, he was robbed when just about to shoot, the resulting clearance was launched up field, McGreal misjudged the bounce allowing Bent a clear run and cool finish past an exposed Jensen for the opening goal.

Five minutes later and Clarets had an equaliser cancelled out by a controversial linesman's flag. Grant intercepted just outside the box and quickly fed Blake who finished neatly past a static Davis.

Town rode their luck and Davis was lucky when mishandling Sanokho's long range curler that no-one followed in on the shot.

A superb fifty yard run by a jinking Camara brought the crowd to life and Magilton brought them to their feet when blatantly blocking Grant's run into the area. The lenient yellow card award could have been a different colour on a different day.

Blake's well struck free kick cannoned off the bar as Town's good fortune continued. Bent beat Beast who was well out of his area, but Branch was on hand to cover. The last action in the half saw Duffy deservedly booked for a silly foul.

HT 0-1

Sour Grapes - Fans need to be more patient

The first action of the second half saw Miller booked for a revenge tackle on Duffy before Clarets had half a shout for a penalty, Blake appearing to be held back in the area.

The game was poor in quality with neither side playing to their potential. On the hour Jensen's poor kick crashed into a startled Roche who was then booked for impeding conceding a free kick that was wasted from the edge of the 'D'.

The games one moment of class came a minute later as a disappointing Blake failed to collect a pass into him. Bent neatly controlled a diagonal pass on the edge of Clarets area, turning Branch, he despatched a curled left foot shot that left Jensen helpless as it found the far top right corner of the net.

Two nil to the Tractor Boys sang the visiting thousand or so, game set and match thought the silent ten thousand or so, knowing this was a game too far for Cotterill's depleted squad.

Clarets tried to rally. The hard working O'Connor was unlucky with a header, Blake fed Hyde but the shot lacked sufficient power to trouble an under worked Davis.

Richards replaced a clearly unhappy Magilton as Joe Royle and his organised unit ploughed on content with their day's work. The last twenty minutes passed without incident and Duffy's twenty five yarder proved to be Clarets attacking highlight in a disappointing half, whereas Jensen kept the score line to two with a fine left handed save in injury time from Miller's placed shot.

FT 0-2

Att:- 11,969

Sour Grapes
Everyone can see the need for a striker, particularly when one like Bent can single handedly win a game. However, Clarets current injury crisis may prioritise elsewhere and we all need to be patient, show understanding and not jeer in times such as these.

A fine Claret
Whilst the stadium's vote went to Mo Camara, mine goes to John McGreal despite a fault in the opening goal. In an otherwise flawless display and hampered by a list of injuries he epitomises the determination and will of this improving squad, playing injured as he did from the start.