What a night

There wasn’t too much in terms of confidence from the fans on the way over with news that none of these would be in the squad and no one could quite work out just who would play and in what formation.

Steve Cotterill stuck with his usual system and played two of the right backs, Lee Roche and Richard Duffy, on the right and left of midfield – how they were to have an impact.

We needed to settle and to keep it tight in the opening period but it all went horribly wrong as we fell behind after just eleven seconds, yes that’s seconds, and we hadn’t even touched the ball. None of the Burnley fans had even sat down, and it silenced the packed away end holding close on 4,000 visitors.

A goal behind, a scratch team, and on the back of Saturday at Loftus Road. It left 4,000 stunned into silence.

That silence lasted all of a minute and then the Burnley fans started to get behind their team in amazing fashion – if we weren’t going to play well there is no doubt that the team on the pitch were going to have a stormer.

Whether that lifted the team we will never know but once over the initial shock of that goal we started to play well and dictate the game, we did not allow the cumbersome, long ball outfit of a home side to capitalise on that goal.

They did offer some resistance against our excellent play, it was usually a long high ball up to the inept Brian Deane who was more likely to make contact with one of our players than the ball.

It took us just ten minutes to get ourselves level and although the goal owed something to good fortune it was fully deserved. It all came about after a poor back pass from Clarke Carlisle and although keeper Neil Sullivan got to it first the ever alert Lee Roche got in close enough to block his clearance and that was enough, leaving Roche with the simple task of putting the ball into the empty net.

The Burnley fans had been making a din in the first ten minutes, from this point on it got louder, more sustained with the Clarets now dictating at West Yorkshire’s potential new supermarket site – it was suggested that we were sat in the frozen food section.

We were hardly in trouble and much of the play was directed to the far end with just the occasional missile being fired towards Deane’s head at our end.

Burnley were passing the ball well, getting men forward and playing as well as we have done in the league for some time and on the half hour we went in front.

The second came from a Michael Duff cross and then it was up to the two loan men. James O’Connor got in a good header that was well saved by Sullivan at far stretch but he could only parry it to Richard Duffy who gleefully tucked it away for 2-1.

Three sides of Elland Road were silenced as the volume went up on the fourth – incredibly in front after the terrible start.

Leeds were not out of it though and had their one real chance shortly after but Deane headed wide of Brian Jensen’s right hand post when he looked a certain scorer. It was the only time he seriously threatened us all night.

We led 2-1 at half time and it was fully deserved and the Clarets went off to a standing ovation.

and Richard Duffy got the winner

Half time discussions suggested that the first ten minutes of the second half could be vital, we had to keep it tight as Leeds would surely come at us. They did, and we had our one really fortunate moment of the half as Julian Joachim, he of three good games a season, got a shot in that hit both bar and post before we scrambled it clear.

They did put us under some pressure, as expected, but eventually we saw it off and the next real chance came our way as Robbie Blake broke down the right hand side. All he had to do was square it to the unmarked Micah Hyde and it was 3-1 but he didn’t look up, chose to shoot and put his shot wide of the far post. Hyde was furious, Blake shrugged his shoulders and then we got on with it again.

Leeds had removed Deane and introduced Michael Ricketts, remember when he was good? It made no difference, they continued to hit long balls and David Healy must have even thought Deepdale was a better place – well perhaps not.

The chances though fell to Burnley and twice more we could have doubled the lead. Duff and O’Connor combined with the latter putting Blake clear. As he went in search of his 100th league goal he seemed to get the ball caught under his feet and that gave Leeds a chance to clear.

Amadou Sanokho came on for John McGreal who had turned in yet another master class of defensive play – what an incredible signing he is. We reshuffled and the forced change almost brought about a goal as Sanokho raced clear on the right but he allowed Sullivan to get out and block when he looked a certain scorer.

It really was all over, Leeds were a spent force, they had been outplayed by the Clarets on a glorious night for our club. We had to wait until three extra minutes were played before referee Phil Dowd blew his last whistle which was greeted by the most enormous roar in the away end.

As fans applauded players and players applauded fans it has to be said that we turned in two superb performances inside Elland Road.

I’ve said it before and I have no problem in repeating it – there are times when it is an absolute privilege to be amongst the Burnley fans. Last night was definitely one of those times when they lifted the team from start to last, even after that frightening start.

As for the team on the pitch – what can you say? Stripped of five players from such a small squad, players forced to play in strange positions, they were simply magnificent. There wasn’t a single player who didn’t play well and it is so difficult to even think of picking a man of the match.

The defence was back to its best, the midfield was superb and Robbie up front, those two chances apart, was on top form. And let’s not forget Steve Cotterill and his team, this was very much a triumph for them, they must have had real problems in getting a team out.

But in the build up to the game he remained positive, he didn’t moan about the lack of players and he hasn’t done all season. He got a superb reception from the Burnley fans and how he deserved it.

Winning away from home always makes it a good trip, but there is no doubt that winning at some grounds just feels better than at others. This is our second away win of the season in the league and I’m sure that of all those who were there at both Watford and Leeds, not one of them will pick Watford as the best.

The last time we went to Leeds and won was in 1974 when we outplayed the Champions elect, over thirty years on we have done it again, we’ve outplayed them and won. What a night.

The teams were,

Leeds: Neil Sullivan, Gary Kelly, Clarke Carlisle (Aaron Lennon 67), Paul Butler, Matthew Kilgallon, Jermaine Wright, Sean Gregan, Danny Pugh (Simon Johnson 76), Julian Joachim, Brian Deane (Michael Ricketts 57), David Healy. Subs not used: Scott Carson, Simon Walton.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal (Amadou Sanokho 80), Mo Camara, Lee Roche, Micah Hyde, Tony Grant, James O’Connor, Richard Duffy (Matt O’Neill 86), Robbie Blake. Subs not used: Paul Scott, Joel Pilkington, Mark Yates.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).

Attendance: 27,490.