Last season, a point and a clean sheet gleaned from a testing away game would have been the source of some quiet satisfaction for Burnley supporters. But such has been the progress made by the Clarets this term, that yesterday’s goalless draw at Brighton’s AMEX Stadium was greeted with a tinge of disappointment.
Clarets’ fans have become so accustomed to breathing the rarefied air of their position in the top six that there is a danger that a little suspension of reality will set in.
Whilst discussing Burnley on Gillette Soccer Saturday yesterday, Paul Merson suggested that the intensity with which Burnley are obliged to approach every game will take its toll in the second half of the season.
It is easy to scoff at such a suggestion, but it is worth recalling that last season, Burnley won only two league matches after the first of February. Uncomfortable though it may be to acknowledge, Merson has a point.
Not that one imagines for one second that Sean Dyche isn’t aware of this and no doubt plans are being drawn up for January recruits to be brought in which well help maintain Burnley’s impetus as they tackle the “back nine”.
Back to yesterday’s match; Brighton will probably feel that a chance of three points had been squandered, especially when they reflect on the harshly-awarded penalty against Burnley's James Tarkowski. Glenn Murray struck the ball so far over the crossbar it was probably picked up on the radar at nearby Gatwick Airport.
But Burnley too can look back on a Chris Wood effort which was ruled out for an offside which, on replay, looked far from conclusive. Wood was also guilty of spurning Burnley’s best chance later in the match, when he opted to attempt the chip the ball over Brighton keeper Mat Ryan, instead of belting the ball past him.
All-in-all, a point is still a point, and the home defeats suffered by Watford and Leicester meant that Burnley were able to nudge a little further ahead of the pack of pursuing clubs.
The visit of Spurs to Turf Moor next Saturday will mark the half-way point of the season and Burnley will kick off that game with a tally of thirty two points. It was also pointed out on yesterday’s Gillette Soccer Saturday that of the eighty-six teams to have amassed so many points after nineteen Premier League matches, all but a handful ended the season qualifying for Europe, and all but one finished in the top half.
The aim for Burnley between now and the remainder of the season must surely be to honour that statistic and not become a victim of it.
This match summary and review was written by uber Burnley fan Dave Thornley, who contributes regularly on behalf of Clarets Mad. (TEC).
Source: DSG
