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Do not be deceived by the scoreline. Frankly, it flattered the Clarets immensely. The only reason they got back into the game at 2-1 was because the Blades had taken their foot of the accelerator. As soon as their two goal margin had been reduced, Sheffield United simply went up the end and scored another. Burnley were inferior to Warnock’s warriors in every department, most notably midfield where the clearly unfit Steve Davis spent all evening chasing shadows with little help from Paul Weller.
Ternent had made it clear there would be changes following the no-show at Watford, and he was true to his word. Whilst the defence remained unchanged, only Lee Briscoe survived a midfield cull and was stationed on the left wing. Weller and Davis were the new central midfield pairing whilst Glen Little started a game for the first time since the FA Cup replay against Grimsby in his preferred right wing berth. Changing to a 4-4-2 meant the tireless Gareth Taylor was supported by Ian Moore.
There was an eerie still over Bramall Lane for the first ten minutes. You would never have guessed there were in excess of 17,000 spectators in the ground. Surely they must have generated more atmosphere against Leeds in their recent FA Cup tie? "It’s just like being in church", sung the visiting supporters. In fact it was those same supporters who almost had most to shout about when, on the quarter hour, Glen Little threaded a perfect pass through to Brisser. One-on-one, Brisser swung his right foot at it, which turned out to be his wrong foot actually, and Paddy Kenny was able to save with comparative ease low to his right.
A minute later Stuart McCall, now 64 years old, played a short pass to Michael Brown who was 20 yards out in a central position. Five (count ‘em) Burnley defenders stood and watched as the midfielder picked his spot and passed the ball into the goal past Beresford’s hapless hands. It really was a slack piece of defending. More examples of it were to follow.
Worryingly, Burnley were looking utterly clueless even at this early stage. Whilst United stroked the ball around with confidence and composure probing for (easily found) openings, Burnley hoofed and hoped. I lost count of the times Gareth Taylor won the ball in his own box and then looked on in dismay as a team-mate would hoof the ball upfield looking for … you guessed it. With Davis and Weller failing to compete in midfield, Sheffield were attacking in waves. On 29 minutes, Steve Kabba who had wreaked havoc at Blundell Park earlier in the season during that game, gave Cox a torrid time as he left him trailing. Beresford had to be quick-smart off his line to prevent United’s advantage being doubled as he denied first Kabba and then saved at the feet of Dean Windass.
Token resistance came on 34 minutes when Steve Davis’ header from a corner was held easily by Kenny. Two minutes later, the Blades did what they had been threatening to do for the previous 20 minutes or so. The home team won a free-kick on the right edge of the Clarets box. Michael Brown thumped his effort goalwards. Marlon, showing all the resistance of a rain-drenched pansy in a gale, let the ball go between himself and the goal. When he grabbed at it, it was too late and the game was effectively over as a contest.
The half closed with the Blades further cutting Burnley to ribbons, as both Windass and Montgomery were shut out by Beresford. It was a pretty glum and dejected set of Burnley supporters who spent half-time shell-shocked in the top tier of the Gordon Lamb Stand.
Amazingly, the team emerged unchanged for the second period. So did the pattern of play. On 50 minutes it was almost three nil as Steve Kabba’s run went unchecked, but his shot was eventually blocked. And so it continued for another 15 minutes or so, as it was all Burnley could do to cling on. On 59 minutes Blake was introduced for a huffing and puffing Dean West. His impact was almost immediate. On 64 minutes it was Blake who scampered down the left. His pass was less than perfect but found Briscoe via a deflection. Brisser slung a good cross over and Gareth Taylor was rewarded for his heroic work-rate with a trademark header past Kenny. It was undeserved and unlikely, but none of the travellers were complaining.
Having shown a bit of creativity with his goal assist, Briscoe was immediately withdrawn in favour of Tony Grant. Any optimism was quickly extinguished as two minutes after Taylor’s strike the Blades regained their two goal advantage. Not for the first time Cox was destroyed by Kabba. His low cross was converted by the tricky Peter Ndlovu. The exit stairs turned claret and blue.
Five minutes later Cox saw the by now familiar sight of Steve Kabba’s heels as he sped away from him. The ball briefly bobbled around the box before being smashed home by Ndlovu. Four-one, and with 18 minutes left and the Clarets looking increasingly ragged, a rout seemed on the cards.
Sensing their work for the evening was done, Sheffield gradually wound down. Although that having been said both Wayne Allison and Peter Ndlovu found time to have efforts on goal in the closing stages. The final action of the game saw a Blake consolation as the striker cut in from the left and cannoned a shot home off the far post. In this writer’s opinion, the striker did enough to play him back into the side.
Burnley used their full complement of subs when on 90 minutes Paul Cook replaced Glen Little who throughout the course of the evening had been inviting referee Butler to send him off with a set of niggly fouls after the ref had booked him midway through the first half.
After this game, Ternent insisted Burnley would not turn in another display like that this season. But those with longer memories will recall that he said a similar thing after the recent home defeat by Reading. This result leaves the Clarets 11 points off the play-off place and with a vastly inferior goal difference to sixth placed Wolves. The season hangs by a thread.
