Were they Bolton in disguise?

Last updated : 20 April 2011 By Tony Scholes
Jay Rodriguez
In truth, Tony Mowbray's Middlesbrough were a poor outfit, but that shouldn't take anything away from the rampaging Burnley who hit the heights in that first 45 minutes and the only disappointment on the night was perhaps the Middlesbrough goal nine minutes from time that gave them a somewhat flattering final 3-1 scoreline.

This was the sort of form we'd shown earlier in the season when we hit Hull for four and knocked the aforementioned Bolton out of the Carling Cup, and from the very first kick we left Middlesbrough struggling to cope.

We'd got ourselves back to winning ways on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Swansea. Chris Iwelumo had replaced Nathan Delfouneso just after the Swansea goal and Big Chris was preferred ahead of the Aston Villa loanee last night.

That was the only change in personnel but there was a change in formation. Jay Rodriguez was in a central role with Wade Elliott and Chris Eagles on the right and left respectively.

We got off to a very bright start and we were moving the ball so much better than we've done for weeks. Gone was the slow approach of some recent games. We were playing at such a high tempo, getting the ball forwards and attacking in numbers.

The first half chance fell to Jay who headed over but the leading scorer was soon to have a major impact on the game as we scored two in a minute midway through the first half.

All it needed was a goal and when Eagles saw his shot deflected wide by 'Boro goalkeeper Paul Smith we went in front from the resulting corner from the right. Danny Fox took it and hit it low into the box. Eagles stepped over it and Jay stroked it home from around 10 yards out.

We'd hardly settled in our seats when Jay received the ball around the half way, run at the Middlesbrough defence before playing the ball to Elliott to the right of goal. Wade stepped inside the defender, got a good touch with his left before hitting an unstoppable rising drive with his right.

It's hard to believe that it was his first league goal of the season. He's never been a prolific scorer but he usually bags a handful during each season. Maybe they are all still to come.

We were now in total control. Eagles had a great run, Jay was causing them all sorts of problems and Wade all but set Eagles up with a great cross that was just out of reach. Jack Cork and, in particular, Dean Marney were running the midfield whilst Iwelumo was offering so much up front.

And so it came as no surprise when goal number three arrived and again it was from a Fox corner on the right. This time he lifted it and to the far post where Michael Duff was waiting to head home from close range.

The last time Duff scored was the night Robbie's 'Bad Beat Bob' underpants got their first airing at Coventry. Duff went flying over an advertising hoarding but got up with the biggest of grins on his face. "You know things are going well when I end up scoring," he said after the game.

Right at the end of the half Middlesbrough had an opportunity but the shot was straight at Brian Jensen who almost set up a goal. Jay got on the end of his kick up field and in turn found Iwelumo who just couldn't turn the ball in for what would have been a fourth first half goal.

The boos of recent weeks were well and truly gone as the half time whistle sounded and the players left to a superb, and fully deserved, ovation.

The half time break so the return of Alex Elder for the half time draw and that was followed by a presentation of a cheque for £18,000 to Debbie and Luke Parkinson (wife and son of Gary). The Burnley and Middlesbrough fans joined as one as Luke took the microphone to thank everyone for their generous support.

If the first half had been good then the second half got even better as we attacked Middlesbrough almost into submission. Right at the start it was nearly a second for Wade as he almost got to a Rodriguez cross.

Some of the football we were playing was sublime and the only minor criticism is that we didn't get a fourth goal and, at times, we were looking to score the perfect goal. Even so it was fantastic to watch and with any luck at all 'Boro would have been out of site.

Goalkeeper Smith must have wondered how many we might get. On his last appearance at Burnley, playing for Nottingham Forest, he'd conceded no less than five goals and here he was again with three against him in the first half.

Mowbray made changes, three of them at once, around the hour, but in truth it made no difference and it was still very much all Burnley and the only disruption came when we were forced into a change.

Andre Bikey, very much a player back in form, was forced off with an injury and replaced by Clarke Carlisle. and five minutes later Delfouneso came on for Eagles. It made little difference but as we settled for the win we had a shaky few minutes after they pulled a goal back.

Rhys Williams, who was in the Burnley side two years ago, played a one-two on the edge of the box before rifling a shot against the post. It rebounded to Andrew Taylor who made no mistake.

Jensen fumbled a shot a couple of minutes later before grabbing it at the second attempt and all of a sudden there were some concerns. There needn't have been and they didn't threaten again.

There was just time for Grezza to come on for appearance number 1,001. He replaced the injured Marney who had enjoyed a terrific performance in the midfield.

And right at the death, Cork almost got a fourth as he latched on to a poor clearance from Smith and hit a shot back towards the empty net only to see the goalkeeper get back just in time.

As the final whistle sounded it certainly signalled the end of our best performance in some time but doesn't it leave you frustrated? We've managed to get ourselves right up within two points of Leeds and a play off position and you just can't stop thinking of that run of one point from six games.

The chance is still there but we have to keep on winning, it's as simple as that. One thing's for sure; if we keep playing as we did last night then we'll keep winning.

Well done Burnley - this was a great result and it was such enjoyable football to watch. And who cares if they were Bolton in disguise?

The teams were;

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Michael Duff, Andre Bikey (Clarke Carlisle 71), Danny Fox, Wade Elliott, Jack Cork, Dean Marney (Graham Alexander 90), Chris Eagles (Nathan Delfouneso 76), Jay Rodriguez, Chris Iwelumo. Subs not used: Lee Grant, Shane Duffy, Ross Wallace, Steven Thompson.

Middlesbrough: Paul Smith, Tony McMahon (Leroy Lita 60), Matthew Bates, Stephen McManus, Joe Bennett, Barry Robson (Tarmo Kink 59), Rhys Williams, Kevin Thomson (Smallwood 60), Julio Arca, Andrew Taylor, Scott McDonald. Subs not used: Danny Coyne, Andre Davies, Willo Flood, Andy Halliday.
Yellow Card: Tony McMahon.

Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 14,366.