Source: FOOTYMAD
We had the bragging rights for the night
Well, we're back. Back on the Turf after what feels to have been an absolute age since the end of last season. I pass the church every day twice a day going to and from work, so to finally get back on there was pleasing. Kieran Trippier was one to impress The final pre-season game of the summer came against Sunderland. It was my first game of pre-season I'd managed to get to, and was particularly looking forward to seeing how the new faces fit in. The game wasn't played at the fastest of paces, but early doors, Sunderland pushed forwards and gave Jensen one or two corners and crosses to collect or clear, but that was about as threatening as they got. Burnley however played some good football in the first half, and I have to say I was really impressed by the back four. We look strong, solid and organised - not something we can say we've really been used to... I was impressed with the two new defenders in Mee and Trippier - you can see why fans of their former loan clubs Leicester and Barnsley were disappointed not to have got them back. Mee looked commanding and for me is the player to bring the best out of Amougou. On the subject of Amougou, he looked a very similar style player to Bikey - he looked in relatively good shape, fit in well with the back four but was just as casual (and had the odd hairy moment) as Bikey does. Trippier looked good on the ball, has a good first touch and slotted in well. Back to the game, Burnley were playing by far the better football. Captain Chris McCann was from box-to-box all the half, creating and finding space at ease. He linked up well on numerous occasions with the defence and attack. Gathering the ball from Jensen, bursting forwards and linking up with the attack - it was a joy to watch. McCann is by far and away the best signing we have and will make all summer. Jay Rod looked up for it, and won and scored the penalty that was to decide the match - albeit in fortunate circumstances. Paterson managed to get away with a foul on a Mackem, before Jay was brought down by the ever-clumsy Titus Bramble. The resulting penalty was slammed home by Rodriguez to give Burnley a much deserved lead. The second half was a very different story. Mass changes for both sides resulted in the loss of fluidity in the play. From where we sat in the Longside right at the Sunderland end, it was a handy position to have an occasionally glance at the cricket next door whilst catching some rays. As the second half progressed, neither side really looked like threatening. Charlie Austin got some much needed game time, but I think he'll need quite a bit more before he pushes for a starting place in the XI. Probably the most entertaining part of the second period was Sessegnon's amateur dramatics. One of the 4,989 fans present must have been armed with a sniper. He seemed to slump to the floor in agony. I think I was in more pain through laughter than he was for being tackled. Sunderland had one or two half chances in the second period, and Ji-Dong Won looked a handy player and looked the most likely to cause us problems. Nothing came of their advances on the defence as Easton and Edgar in particular stood strong and dealt with the pressure. Overall, I was impressed with our play - more so the first half. There wasn't really what I'd call a bad performance. Stand-outs for me though were Mee and Trippier at the back, McCann looked every inch the Captain Fantastic, and Ross Wallace put a good shift in which was good to see. The result was made sweeter by the fact my Mackem mate Lee Adams and his gang came down for the game from Sunderland, and were boasting about how many they'd beat us by - friendly maybe, but we had the bragging rights for the night. For me, I think the starting XI as per the first half looks like it could be the choice for the season opener against Watford next Saturday - which coincidentally ties in with my birthday that day. Here's hoping to a winning start, be nice to get three points on my birthday. Here's to a good season - Up The Clarets... Saturday's line-ups were: Burnley: Brian Jensen (Lee Grant 45), Kieran Trippier (Kevin Long 67), Andre Amougou (Michael Duff 45), Ben Mee (David Edgar 45), Danny Fox (Brian Easton 45), Wade Elliott (Dominic Knowles 72), Dean Marney (Marvin Bartley 45), Chris McCann (Steven Hewitt 72), Ross Wallace (Joe McKee 72), Jay Rodriguez (Alex MacDonald 60), Martin Paterson (Charlie Austin 45). Subs not used: Jon Stewart, Alex-Ray Harvey. Sunderland: Keiren Westwood, Phil Bardsley, Titus Bramble, Wes Brown (Sebastian Larsson 67), Kieran Richardson, Ahmed Elmohamady, Craig Gardner (David Vaughan 45), Lee Cattermole (Steed Malbranque 45), Jack Colback, Connor Wickham (Stephane Sessegnon 45), Asamoah Gyan (Ji Dong-Won 45). Subs not used: Simon Mignolet, Anton Ferdinand, Louis Laing.
