Since that game the fortunes of the two clubs have taken sharply divergent paths; Burnley have enjoyed a season of solid progression, maintaining a position in the top ten throughout; whilst Albion have won only one further Premier League match and after defeat to Burnley at the Hawthorns on Saturday, are now facing life in the Championship without the manager they brought in to replace Pulis.
Alan Pardew has today joined Frank De Boer, Ronald Koeman and Paul Clement on the roster of high-profile names to lose their jobs shortly after suffering defeat at the hands of Sean DycheÂ’s Burnley.
But whilst one has sympathy for AlbionÂ’s travails, they are of lesser concern than the warm glow of satisfaction to be gleaned from BurnleyÂ’s third successive win, a victory highlighted by a wonder goal from Ashley Barnes.
Barnes, it is fair to say, is enjoying the form of his life,
he has now scored in each of BurnleyÂ’s last four fixtures, from the goal-line
scramble against Southampton to SaturdayÂ’s spectacular overhead kick, each of
his goals has been more visually gratifying than the last
Adjusting as he gaged the trajectory of Aaron LennonÂ’s cross, he contorted his body to meet its flight; his eyes remaining fixed on the ball, he leapt high to allow his outstretched left foot to make contact with the ball and guide it into AlbionÂ’s goal; a superbly improbable feat of athleticism.
This surge in form does not happen by accident, it is the
product of the work Barnes and his colleagues put in on the training ground day
in and day out, it is the product too of confidence both in BarnesÂ’ own ability
and in that of his teammates
Of those teammates, Chris Wood and Aaron Lennon also deserve
a mention
Since being paired together in attack, Wood has matched Barnes for output
and whilst his goal at the Hawthorns, a close range header after a rebound off
goalkeeper Ben Foster, will not linger as long in the memory as BarnesÂ’; all
goals look the same on the scoresheet and WoodÂ’s goal proved to be the one
which secured all three points.
As for Lennon, he seems to be a player rejuvenated since his
arrival at Burnley
Whilst it would seem that “getting a tune” out of someone
called Lennon wouldnÂ’t be too difficult, during his injury-punctuated time with
Everton, it looked as though his was a talent falling fallow, there have been
too his well-publicised problems with depression.
It is therefore gratifying that the move to Burnley seems to have re-invigorated him and long may that continue, for in the short time that he has been with the club, he has proved a reliable and accurate supply-line for Barnes and Wood.
So Burnley remain in seventh place, clinging onto their hopes of European football next season.
Arsenal, who are currently in sixth
place are keeping Burnley at armÂ’s length, whilst simultaneously Burnley are
holding off Leicester in eighth
It promises to be an intriguing climax to the
season.
This rather Burnley centric match review was written by uber Clarets fan Dave Thornley, who contributes regularly to Clarets Mad (TEC).
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Source : DSG
