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Burnley
v West Bromwich Albion
Turf Moor, Burnley.
17th January 2004, 3.00pm. |
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I didn't travel to
Burnley, but after losing Hulse to a red card in the first half,
and then conceding a soft goal, Albion did well to get a point.
To be honest, I would've taken a point before the game, and with
Norwich drawing 4-4 at Rotherham, we remain two points behind the
leaders.
Here is a match report from ALEX TILSLEY who did manage to make
the game.
Geoff Horsfield showed us why we paid Wigan £1 million for his services
with his best game for the club. Albion survived over 60 minutes
with only 10 men & managed to seal a valuable point with Horsfield's
second goal in two games.
Gary Megson surprisingly adapted his 4-4-2 formation to bring James
Chambers into the side, in front of the back four, to man-mark Burnley
danger man Robbie Blake.
After an early stalemate, the Baggies had the opening chance of
the game when Horsfield went clear after 10 minutes. The Burnley
defence stood appealing for offside to no avail as the former Blues
player bared down on Jensen, only for a second of hesitation allowing
the Beast to smother the shot. Moments later, Hulse set up Horsfield
for an almost identical opportunity only for Jensen to be equal
to his effort for the second time. Was it to be one of those games?
As the first half progressed a few dangerous challenges were made
& it looked like each side may not end the game with 11 men. After
initially being felled by a kick in the back by David May, an apparently
wound-up Rob Hulse, went up for a header with Mark McGregor. Referee
Mark Miller interpreted that Hulse used an elbow, showing him a
red card after just 27 minutes. From my viewpoint in the crowd it
looked like a normal centre forward's challenge, but I'm not a referee!!
From past Albion performances, with ten men, you would have expected
the team to sit back & settle for a point. However, before the half
was over Clement had a couple a good chances, as the Baggies went
for the unsettled Burnley defence.
After the half time break Horsfield still seemed in inspiring form
as he lead the forward line. With just six minutes of the second
half gone he should of scored after a great run staring from just
inside the Burnley half. The Horse proceeded to take on three Burnley
defenders, this time his shot beat Jensen, only for it to come back
off the post.
Albion continued to create the only chances of the game, with Burnley
danger-man, Blake, being marked out of the game by James Chambers.
However, with just 22 minutes remaining, BLAKE found a couple of
yards of space, he then spun of placed the ball past Hoult in the
Albion goal to give the Clarets an undeserved lead.
This seemed to inspire Horsfield even more as Albion hit back just
five minutes later. A minute earlier Dyer had replaced Haas & immediately
this gave the midfield more impetus. Following good work from Thomas
Gaardsoe, Neil Clement played a telling ball to HORSFIELD. He beat
the offside trap on the left wing raced with the ball into the area
& coolly placed the ball over ex-Baggies keeper Jensen for his second
goal in as many games. This was exactly what the Horse & his team
mates deserved.
Jut minutes later Neil Clement had a low free kick pushed away by
the Beast. But the Baggies were only going to come away from Turf
Moor with a point, after two good late saves by Hoult from Blake.
RESULT - BURNLEY 1 WEST BROMWICH
ALBION 1
Marks
Hoult - 7 - Great last gasp save from Blake, however looked nervy
on a couple of crosses.
Haas - 6 - Not his best game, looks like he is struggling to adapt
back to a full-back role.
Robinson - 7 - Solid, didn't let much passed him, good distribution.
Moore - 6 - Still doesn't look 100% fit, made a few mistakes which
on other days could have proved costly.
Gaardose - 8 - A rock as usual, great positioning & tackling. Would
make a very good Premiership defender.
Chambers - 6 - Job was to mark Blake, he let him get away once &
he scored.
Clement - 7 - Set up the goal & had a good free-kick saved. Adapting
well to new midfield role, does the simple things effectively.
Johnson - 6 - Ran around a lot & was the only midfielder to try
to support Arose, but not much final outcome.
Gregan - 7 - Good distribution & ran the midfield well.
Hulse - 5 - Purely for his sending off, from my position in the
crowd it looked harsh.
Arose - 9 - MOM. Excellent striker's performance, should have had
two goals in the first half. When playing on his own after the sending
off held the ball up well & scared the Burnley defence with some
powerful runs. Took his goal brilliantly.
Dyer - 7 - The goal was scored moments after he came on, looked
lively but played in unfamiliar central role behind Arose.
Kinsella - 6 - Had little time to impress.
The Manager - 6 - Not sure why he had to change the teams tactics
against a bottom six side, again leaving out Sakiri. However, he
is persisting with Dyer after making positive impacts from the bench
in the previous two games.
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Burnley
(4-4-2):
Jensen; Roche, May, McGregor, Camara; Chadwick (West 45), Grant,
Little, Branch (A Moore 78); Blake, I Moore. Subs not used: Abbey
(GK), O'Neill, Pilkington. |
West
Bromwich Albion (3-5-2):
Hoult; Gaardsoe, Moore (Kinsella 87), J Chambers; Haas (Dyer 72),
Johnson, Gregan, Clement, Robinson; Hulse, Horsfield. Subs not used:
Murphy (GK), Sakiri, Hughes.
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Scoring: Blake (68)
1-0, Horsfield (73) 1-1.
Bookings: Burnley - McGregor (dissent 53). West Bromwich Albion
- Haas (foul 42), Horsfield (dissent 59).
Sending Off: West Bromwich Albion - Hulse (violent conduct 27).
Referee: N Miller (Co. Durham)
Attendance: 13,106.
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