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  • Fletcher (53), Bikey (62)
  • Larsson (90)
  • Date:2009-10-03
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Turf Moor
  • Attendance:20102
  • Referee:Friend, K

Live Commentary

90mins

Its all over at Turf Moor, that late goal from Larsson is nothing but consolation for City, Birmingham were very poor throughout the game and Burnley fully deserve their victory.

90mins

Sebastian Larsson scores! A free-kick from Larsson finds its way past Jensen in the Burnley goal, but its too little too late for City.

90mins

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

89mins

Christian Kalvenes comes on for Robbie Blake.

87mins

The City heads dropped a long time ago, and it a shame for the away supporters that their side have given up so meakly.

85mins

Steven Thompson replaces David Nugent.

83mins

City haven't played well today, but Hart's mistake for the first goal was certainly the turning point in this game, and since then, its been all Burnley.

80mins

Into the final ten minutes, and you would think its all about Burnley closing out the game now.

77mins

Hart makes a great save and tips the ball around the post from a Tyrone Mears free-kick, the resulting corner nearly forces a goal as Bikey gets a free header, but puts it wide.

76mins

Stephen Carr is booked for a foul on David Nugent.

72mins

Chris Eagles replaces Steven Fletcher.

70mins

Alex McLeish may be under some more pressure if things stay the same here at Turf Moor, City have not been very good, and have rarely looked like the better side.

66mins

Kevin Phillips replaces Teemu Tainio.

65mins

Unless something remarkable happens in the last 25 minutes, it seems a Burnley win is certainly on the cards as Birmingham have created very little all game.

62mins

Andre Bikey scores! A good passing move from Burnley results in Bikey smashing home the ball to double the home side's lead, however you have to question City's lack of tackling in the build-up.

59mins

Burnley very much on top now as Fletcher has his effort well saved by Hart, and Birmingham are on the back foot.

56mins

The ball rolls towards an empty City net after Fletcher scuffs his shot past Hart, but it hits the post! and Dann is on hand to clear the ball, and what an escape for City!

53mins

Steven Fletcher scores! Birmingham surrender possession from their own free-kick in the Burnley half, Burnley break, and Fletcher's shot goes in after a bad goalkeeping error from Hart.

48mins

Barry Ferguson is booked for a foul on Tyrone Mears.

47mins

Sebastian Larsson blasts the ball over the bar, Bowyer was also an option as he was open on the edge of the box, but Larsson tried his luck, all to no avail.

45mins

A double change for City at the break, Sebastian Larsson and Liam Ridgewell come on, and they replace Franck Queudrue and Keith Fahey.

45mins

The second half begins.

45mins

The referee blows the whistle and its all square at the break, Burnley had most of the play, but it was City who had the only noteworthy effort with Bowyer missing the goal from only a couple of yards out.

43mins

Not long until the half-time, and it seems that at the moment both sides will be going into the break having failed to break the deadlock.

40mins

Burnley have domianted much of the possession in this half, however the best chance has fallen to City, and the Blues could have stolen a half-time lead there.

37mins

Bowyer misses a sitter! The ball goes across the box, and from only a few yards out, he somehow misses the target! and what a chance that was for City.

35mins

Great work from Burnley, the ball falls to David Nugent, who produces a great save from Joe Hart, however, Fletcher was unmarked across the box and perhaps Nugent should have made the pass instead of shooting.

33mins

Keith Fahey puts in a great ball into the Burnley box, however the City players cant get on the end of it and the ball goes out for goal-kick.

31mins

Barry Ferguson makes a fantastic block after some good Burnley work from a free-kick, it seems that if anyone is going to score first, it will be the home side.

27mins

Both sides have yet to create many chances of note so far in this match, however Burnley have certainly enjoyed more of the possession.

23mins

Scott Dann recieves a yellow card.

22mins

City enjoy good possession around the Burnley box, however Clarke Carlisle is able to clear the danger.

19mins

Despite Burnley's home dominance this season, the Clarets haven't beaten City at Turf Moor in the last 5 encounters, a good omen for the away side perhaps?

16mins

There's a strong wind howling around Turf Moor, so expect some ariel attacks from both sides this afternoon.

12mins

Joe Hart once again struggles with his puches, and Hart has a lucky escape this time as Burnley hit the resulting fumble over the bar,

9mins

After some good opening exchanges, the game has slowed in tempo as both sides look to establish themselves.

5mins

Burnley break quickly and seem to have Bimingham on the back foot, however David Nugent is flagged offside and the chance has gone.

2mins

A fiesty start from Burnley as they looked to capitalise on some early mistakes from the City defence, a good start from the home side.

0mins

The match begins, and with a 100% record at Turf Moor this season, Burnley would certainly go into this game as favourites over a struggling Birmingham side.

0mins

McFadden and Queudrue both return to fitness and play, Christian Benitez is out on compassionate leave as Birmingham start with; Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Queudrue, Fahey, Ferguson, Tainio, McFadden, Bowyer, O'Connor

0mins

Jay Rodriguez has suffered a fractured ankle and will be out for 3 months, however, Steven Caldwell returns to the starting XI as Burnley begin with; Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Alexander, Steven Fletcher, Elliott, Bikey, Blake, Nugent

Match Preview

Owen Coyle will be hoping his Burnley outfit have laid their demoralising 5-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur to rest ahead of the weekend clash with Birmingham City.

Robbie Keane struck four times as the newly-promoted side simply could not handle the classy attacking onslaught in the capital.

Coyle will look to strike pair David Nugent and Steven Fletcher to fire them to three much-needed home points in what looks a winnable contest.

Alex McLeish's Birmingham also suffered a despairing setback last weekend, going down to a late 2-1 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Burnley have won their three home games to date, including a 1-0 success against champions Manchester United, and they will want to rack up as many points as possible in order to avoid the predicament Hull City found themselves in towards the end of last term after they started the season so brightly.

Martin Paterson and Chris McCann, both with knee injuries, are expected to be on the sidelines until December.

McLeish has problems in attack as his side have scored just four times in their seven games to date.

He is lacking an out-and-out goalscorer and this is certainly hindering his side's progression as they sit in 14th place with two wins to their name and to make matters worse, Ecuadorian international Christian Benitez has returned to his home country after his father was involved in a serious accident and he may not be back in time to play.

Birmingham's injury list is lengthy and they will be without Stuart Parnaby and James McFadden (thigh), Damien Johnson, Marcus Bent and Franck Queudrue (hamstring), Cameron Jerome and Martin Taylor (ankle) and David Murphy (knee) ahead of the clash in the north west.

Last season both teams gained promotion from the Championship and at Turf Moor last October they played out a 1-1 draw.


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Match Report

Second-half goals from Steven Fletcher and Andre Bikey maintained Burnley's 100 per cent home record in the Premier League this season.

Sebastian Larsson's free-kick in the dying seconds of injury time was no more than a consolation effort for visiting Birmingham City.

Burnley captain Steven Caldwell started his first game of the season, which allowed Bikey to play in a central midfield position. Blues boss Alex McLeish maintained his normal formation, which meant a lone striker in the form of Garry O'Connor.

The first half saw little goalmouth action with Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart only having to make one save from Burnley striker David Nugent.

At the other end Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen made his only save from O'Connor. The best opportunity in the opening 45 minutes fell to veteran midfielder Lee Bowyer, who should have done better from close range following a cross from Stephen Carr.

McLeish made a double substitution at half-time introducing Larsson and Liam Ridgewell, but it was the home side who scored with a swift counter-attack led by right-back Tyrone Mears and finished by Fletcher - for his first goal in the Premier League since joining in the summer from Hibernian.

Fletcher should gave scored again shortly afterwards but after being sent clear by Robbie Blake, he saw his shot strike a post.

The home side increased their lead when Bikey played a lovely one-two with on-loan striker Nugent and finished in some style.

Goalkeeper Hart kept his side in the game with saves from Fletcher and Mears, but all the Blues had to show for their efforts was an injury time free-kick expertly executed by Larsson.

The scoreline may suggest a narrow home victory, but the reality was that once the Clarets had gone in front, there was never any doubt that they would maintain their impressive record at Turf Moor.

Burnley

Birmingham City

Corners

84

Fouls

1711

Goal attempts

1510

Shots off target

14

Offsides

33

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