Blacklaw & co’s champion’s spirit required to beat the drop

It felt like the day the dare to dreamers really stopped believing. Burnley’s 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth at the weekend saw many disappointed faces leaving Turf Moor struggling to stay positive about the rest of our Premier League campaign.

Sadly it was another story of the season game with missed chances at important stages then seeing us punished for them at the other end. What was different about this one though was that it was at Turf Moor, where on only two other occasions we have been beaten this season.


While at times we looked disjointed and far too laid back it was still a game we could’ve won. After going one nil down we fought back to be level at half time thanks to a fantastic looping finish from Martin Paterson, his second Premier League goal in two games.

The stage was set for us to go and win it in the second half but like so many other times this season we failed to convert golden chances when we were on top. Steven Fletcher’s missed header from five yards out was a particular turning point. We all know that the longer we go without finishing teams off the more chance there is of those all too familiar individual errors coming back to haunt us.

And they did, this time from current skipper and recent Countdown champion Clark Carlisle. I’ve resisted using one of the many terrible puns I’ve heard about Clark and the letters and numbers T.V show since the weekend, however I must admit when speaking to a friend on the phone on Saturday night his opening line of “I’ve got a four letter word for Carlisle” did lighten my mood.

Normally quite a consistent figure in the Burnley back line the clarets number five made two shocking errors of judgement in giving away two penalties, the first a needless schoolboy foul when there was little danger and the second, a horrendous moment after he failed to realise how many Pompey players were around him when in possession.

While Brian Jensen saved the first, you can’t expect to give two penalties away in a game and not be punished. Despite a late flurry, we let most of the game following that second spot kick peter out as we struggled to carve open the Pompey defence.

There is no getting away from the fact that it was a poor overall performance. For the majority of the game we let Portsmouth and in particular the impressive Jamie O’Hara run the show. While he popped up all over the pitch our midfield pairing looked lethargic in comparison.

In my view it was a mistake not sticking with three central midfielders. As soon as I saw Bikey and McDonald were going to be deployed there I was worried, especially as we have struggled to win the battle in the midfield with an extra body in there this season.

I do sympathise with Brian Laws though because to change one area of our side you have to dilute another and while Paterson had a very good game up front his introduction into the line-up definitely weakened the team in an area where we can’t afford it to get any weaker.

For me it would’ve been much more beneficial to keep Cork in the side and deploy Pato or Eagles from an attacking role on the right. We missed the young Chelsea loanee’s mobility to get up and down and his ability to keep hold of the ball. His presence could’ve also helped to keep O’Hara quiet and give him more to think about defensively.

With so much quality in this division many games are won and lost in the central midfield area and that is where we now need to tighten to help take the pressure off the back four. To a certain extent the gaffer’s hands are tied until Alexander and then McCann return to the squad. Looking at Saturday’s performance we are crying out for Grezza’s leadership and composure and McCann’s drive from midfield.

The other worrying thing for me about Saturday was the crowd. Normally in good voice and behind the team from the start we struggled to get going. The concern from my point of view is that without the twelfth man factor we won’t be able to keep Turf Moor such an intimidating place to visit. Away teams will come in the knowledge that if they can get off to a good start the nervous energy from the crowd will further stunt the player’s ability to perform.

It feels to me like people have stopped buying into the adventure that was created by last season’s run in and cup magic. The spark that was carried into this season was built on daring to dream. And we had, for most of this season Turf Moor has been a noisy and uncomfortable place for visiting teams to play their football. Sadly, I didn’t feel that on Saturday.

As we move into March the realisation for me is that we may only have two months of Premier League football left. At the start of the season the majority made the commitment that whatever happened we’d enjoy the ride; we all hoped it wasn’t going to just be a once a lifetime thing but deep inside we knew it probably was.

So no matter what people think about the way we’ve been playing or the new manager or whatever else they are being negative about they should save it for the pub, Claretsmad or just bother the missus with it when corries on. But for every ninety minutes at Turf Moor we need to be loud, proud and keep on fighting to inspire the team.

More importantly the players must also step up to the plate. As the club mourns the death of legendary goalkeeper Adam Blacklaw they must now show the same commitment, passion and determination to succeed as the Scot and the rest of the 59/60 championship winning squad. Having heard the stories about Adam from his peers and various fans over the last twenty four hours it’s clear to see how good a player he was, the impact he had and how much he will be missed.

It’s heartbreaking to see that with only two months until the whole of that 59/60 team will be honoured as part of the fiftieth anniversary of our glorious triumph that another member of the squad won’t be able to be there to witness it. However I’m sure that Adam and all his fellow team-mates and staff who have sadly passed away will be just as much in our hearts on this wonderful occasion.

Survival this season would be a fitting tribute to those Championship winning players of fifty years ago. With eleven games now left it is still possible. There are thirty three points to play for and still a long way to go. But for that to happen there is no doubt that performances must get better and the spine of the team must get stronger.

I’m still buying into what at the moment feels like the almost impossible dream and won’t give up until survival becomes unachievable. I hope all fellow Clarets will join me and help inspire the team to beat the drop for Adam Blacklaw and the rest of the our historic first division winning squad.

The year of the cup final continues

If there is anyone out there that still doubts the fact that football can be a cruel, cruel game then will somebody please show them a DVD of our trip to Villa Park on Sunday. In fact, just show them the twelve second half minutes where we suffered a horrific collapse even an England batting order would struggle to emulate.

From one nil up to five two down at the finish, the story of our away season continued with great aplomb as once again what seemed to be looking like a competent performance was shattered when put under pressure.

The most frustrating thing about the games we’ve had that have been similar to Sunday (to varying extents at Portsmouth, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea) is that in each and every one of them we were well in the game until we switched off.

Goals one to five all combined an all too familiar disastrous formula. First comes the simple lack of concentration which quickly manifests into a major loss of confidence, sadly when the two combine at this level you will be punished each and every single time.

The question that has posed two managers this season is how do we stop it from happening?

Certainly Coyle seemed to believe our gung-ho approach would eventually pay off while Laws is busy trying to mend the psychological damage of the formers approach. Sadly the gaffer can do all the work he wants during the week but he can do nothing to stop the self belief draining once Downing’s first was quickly followed up by a second deflected effort to make it three one.

If survival hinges on picking up at least one away win from the six that remain then I’d suggest that the one at Wigan remains our best chance of picking up three points on our travels. Barring that, with continued good results at home a point at both the DW and at Sunderland may be enough to help push our heads back above the parapet.

The fitness of Graham Alexander and Chris McCann may be the key to our survival hopes. I’d love to see a midfield trip of Grezza, McCann and Jack Cork who was by far our best player at Villa. It was nice to have a fully mobile midfielder in the young Chelsea loanee, who looks a very tidy player and a good acquisition. Unfortunately the anticipated return of McCann seems to hang in the balance with his up and down recovery seemingly one setback away from surgery. It was also fantastic to see Martin Paterson come off the bench to score his first Premier League goal after being out for much of the campaign.

I wish Aston Villa luck with their trip to Wembley to face Manchester United in the Carling Cup showpiece this weekend. However before the other Claret and Blue’s run out on the hallowed turf of the national stadium there is a more important cup final for us to worry about. Saturday’s visit of Portsmouth is perhaps the biggest of all our final twelve games and is one I’m already nervous about. Three points are essential in what could be a potential banana skin.

The financially stricken club look almost certain to be in administration come the weekend with a nine point deduction to boot. Despite their position Pompey have some good players and have been unlucky at times this season. Too add to that I’m always wary of the wounded animal with the club’s relegation all but sealed if nine points are removed.

Although I have little sympathy with their plight it would be a disaster to see any football club go bust. We’ve struggled to avoid administration over recent years due to a lack of money so forgive me for not feeling sorry for a club that have squandered Premier League riches and massive transfer fees. I don’t want to see their fans lose their team but I hope we can add further punishment in what promises to be a miserable week for their club.

They have to take heart from the fact that with administration the club can go on and start to rebuild. That is the main thing for any club that is facing or will face financial difficulties in the next few weeks, months or years; but as long as we can still see our beloved clubs run out and play football on a Saturday afternoon then all will be well.

In the not too distant future a football club will go bust with probably a few others following suit. But until that tragic day where we will all mourn together we must all concentrate on our own battles. At the moment a survival of a different kind is what Burnley Football Club will be focusing on until May.

Whatever happens after that, whether its Premier League football or Championship, I know that as a result of this magical season that my club needn’t worry about football’s grim reaper loitering around the Bob Lord anytime soon. A failure to win this weekend though and there may be a few more unwanted relegation vultures starting to circle Turf Moor.