Turf Moor year ends in a draw

Last updated : 27 December 2009 By Tony Scholes
Andre Bikey
Andre Bikey - Man of the Match
It all started back in January, on this web site editor's birthday, with a 2-0 defeat against Swansea. There were no goals that day, but there's been at least one goal in all of the 23 home games since in league, cup and play off.

We added just one yesterday, David Nugent's second half header, to earn the draw but it was game we surely should have won after dominating Bolton for long spells, not as though you would get Gary Megson agreeing to that.

Despite the weather, the game was never in any real doubt once the approaches had been gritted and we got there to the news that both central defenders, Clarke Carlisle and Steven Caldwell, had been ruled out with their groin injuries.

It as no surprise to see Michael Duff come in with Andre Bikey moving back, but Coyle took the opportunity then to recall Nugent and go with a 4-4-2 system, and it certainly got us off to a good start.

We went at Bolton from the start but weren't able to create any early chances. However, we had them at sixes and sevens at the back where former Claret Gary Cahill and his partner Zat Knight were having nightmares.

Cahill got away with a foul on Nugent in the box and you have to wonder about referee Chris Foy. He gave the soft one against Robbie Blake at West Ham recently but this one was far clearer but with his assistant doing what he did all afternoon - i.e. not bothering - Bolton got away with it.

They also got away with it when Knight inexplicably let in Wade Elliott down our right only for the winger's cross to be put wide by Steven Fletcher. The Scottish striker knew he should have buried it.

There was never any sustained pressure though from Burnley, other than one little spell, but we didn't look to be in much danger defensively where the new duo at the back were both in good form.

But a foul by Bikey did lead to us going behind. Now I'm not sure what he could have done as Kevin Davies (he of the Barbara Windsor style chest) backed into him. Foy incredibly went in favour of Davies when it was very much our free kick.

Brian Jensen got his positioning wrong and that gave Matt Taylor too big a target and he made no mistake to give Wanderers the lead. It could have been worse soon after but Jensen came to the rescue to deny Ivan Klasnic.

A 2-0 lead for Bolton would have been very unjust and I do believe they were fortunate to take the lead they did into the half time break.

At times I thought we lacked urgency during that first period, and the front men hadn't probably received the support they should have done from behind them, but that all changed in the second half.

It really was a different story as we tore into Bolton. Fletcher had another opportunity that went begging and then Kevin McDonald hammered a left foot shot against the under side of the bar.

Bolton came back for Taylor to roll a shot against the post but it was an isolated attack from the visitors as Burnley put them under more and more pressure.

Finally we got the goal back. Elliott, looking a different player in the second half, got in a cross from the right and Nugent got between the two central defenders to head home from six yards with Jussi Jaaskelainen left flat footed.

It was all Burnley now. Fletcher had another half chance and Jaaskelainen saved well from both Chris Eagles and then Nugent. Surely a second goal would come. Unfortunately it didn't. Our last decent chance went Nugent's way and having broken clear he slid his shot wide of the far post from a tight angle.

We had to settle for a point for the fourth successive home game, but the second half showing deserved much more and on another day we might have scored a few more.

I didn't hesitate this week with my choice of man of the match. Andre Bikey, back in the centre of defence, was outstanding. He won the ball consistently, he used it intelligently and when there was a need to clear his lines he did just that. He looked like the central defender who started his Burnley career so well back in August.

Still this point has taken us to twenty points, and if we could replicate that in the second half of the season you would expect us to have more than a good chance of staying up. To do that I do believe we are going to have to start picking up points away from home and it would be a good start if we could take this second half form to Goodison tomorrow afternoon.

The teams were;

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Andre Bikey, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, Kevin McDonald, Graham Alexander, Chris Eagles, David Nugent, Steven Fletcher (Robbie Blake 80). Subs not used: Diego Penny, David Edgar, Christian Kalvenes, Joey Gudjonsson, Fernando Guerrero, Steven Thompson.

Bolton: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Gretar Steinsson, Gary Cahill, Zat Knight, Paul Robinson, Matt Taylor, Chris Basham, Tamir Cohen, Chung-Yong Lee (Ricardo Gardner 73), Kevin Davies, Ivan Klasnic (Mark Davies 67). Subs not used: Ali Al Habsi, Jlloyd Samuel, Johan Elmander, Sam Ricketts, Andy O'Brien.

Referee: Chris Foy (St. Helens).

Attendance: 21,761.