Source: FOOTYMAD
Long day ends with a win
The Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears news has dominated the day almost to the point that the game against Torquay United this afternoon was all but forgotten. Marvin Bartley scored his first Burnley goal But the Clarets have played Torquay. They have played infinitely better than they did against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday and have come away from Plainmoor with a 3-1 win courtesy of goals from Marvin Bartley, his first in Burnley colours), Jay Rodriguez and Alex MacDonald. The game kicked off with the Bolton bound duo sat watching in the stand and it was a watching brief too for both Martin Paterson and goalkeeper Lee Grant who both failed fitness tests. Needless to say Paterson's absence sparked rumours of a move to Portsmouth but that looks very unlikely. He wasn't risked but it was something and nothing and he's expected to be fit to play at Oldham on Tuesday. It took us only eight minutes to get in front as Bartley got in between the two central defenders before sliding the ball home from the edge of the penalty box. Burnley could have had more goals and eventually, some twelve minutes before half time, last season's leading goalscorer Rodriguez doubled the advantage when he hammered one home from 25-yards. Our lead never looked under any real threat until our hosts pulled one back with an absolute stunner as new signing Rene Howe left Brian Jensen with no chance as a shot from fully 30-yards flew in off the underside of the bar. Burnley had made no changes up to this point but there were several to come with both Jon Stewart (the mystery man) and Steven Hewitt both getting their debuts. It was Alex MacDonald, one of the other subs, who clinched the 3-1 win hitting a shot against the post which hit goalkeeper Martin Rice before going in. That's it for the tour and the next time we are in action will be Tuesday at Oldham. By then both Eagles and Mears will probably have joined Moses' (or is it Joshua's) Exodus to Horwich and there could well be some new faces in the Burnley squad. Today's teams were; Torquay: Martin Rice, Chris Robertson, Mark Ellis (Joe Oastler 60), Brian Saah, Kevin Nicholson (Lathaniel Rowe-Turner 60), Chris McPhee (Saul Halpin 68), Lee Mansell (Ray Spear 84), Damon Lathrope (Eunan O'Kane 60), Ian Morris (Danny Stevens 60), Rene Howe (Lloyd Macklin 68), Taiwo Atieno (Billy Kee 60, Ashley Yeoman 77). Sub not used: Bobby Olenjik. Burnley: Brian Jensen (Jon Stewart 78), David Edgar (Kevin Long 78), Andre Bikey, Ben Mee (Michael Duff 72), Brian Easton (Danny Fox 72), Marvin Bartley (Chris McCann 63), Dean Marney, Wade Elliott (Alex MacDonald 72), Jay Rodriguez (Steven Hewitt 78), Ross Wallace (Wes Fletcher 78), Charlie Austin.
