Match Reports

Nationwide League Division 1

14 Sept 2002: Burnley 2 Stoke City 1 Att: 14,244

CITY STUNG BY CLARET'S LATE SHOW AND NEW BOY'S EARLY BATH by AndyP

I was clearly not focused during my journey to Turf Moor, firstly having set off without the match tickets, and then leaving my report notebook in the car as I walked to the ground. Two quick about-turns and all was sorted. Sadly Stoke's lack of focus in this game was more harshly punished!

In my previous report against Bury I called for more craft and graft in the midfield. Cotterill seemed to have the same frame of mind as he kept Gudjonsson in on the right, while dropped Commons after two limp displays, and replaced him with Jurgen Van Duerzen on the left, making his first start of the season. Also new loan signing Tommy Mooney went straight into the side to partner Cooke up front.

The first incident of note came after five minutes when O'Connor was booked, thus setting out the ref's stall as being a bit of "homer". It was the home team that settled down better in the early exchanges, and they controlled the first ten minutes. After 6 minutes, a Burnley freekick was awarded after a blatant dive near the edge of the area on the right. Justice was done when the whipped in cross was headed firmly away by Mooney at the near post. Two minutes later a neat passing move had Stoke on the back foot and it ended with a shot over the bar from around 15 yards.

On 10 minutes Thomas got up the right wing and put in a decent cross which Gunnarsson stretched to meet with his head, but could only direct it wide of the target with Cooke rushing in to try to prevent the goalkick. Two minutes later another Burnley free kick caused concern and the resulting shot was blocked on the line by Stoke, and hacked clear by Gunnarsson before the rebound fell to the waiting striker who looked certain to score. Meanwhile Stoke were beginning to get into the game and it was the Burnley defence's turn to have a panic attack. On 19 minutes Van Duerzen played a ball into Mooney, who flicked on the ball into the path of Gudjonsson on the right. His cross was put behind from a corner, and the resulting ball in caused panic as it was like pinball in the box, before eventually being hoofed clear by the home side. A minute later Gudjonsson put in a 25 yard shot from a direct free kick, which was gathered low at the near post by the keeper.

It was end to end stuff, and on 21 minutes a long punt downfield by Burnley bounced awkwardly into the Stoke area and Moore got past the defenders to head the ball as it bounced up. Luckily it went tamely wide as Cutler came off his line. It was then Stoke's turn to attack. A freekick by Handyside was played into Mooney, who held up the ball before releasing Van Duerzen, and the Belgian's shot from the left was gathered by the keeper. He was involved again on 30 minutes when his freekick was headed straight at the keeper by Gunnarsson. A minute later Burnley put a shot wide from just outside the Stoke area. Two minutes later a good Stoke move (including a neat backheel from Mooney) ended with O'Connor shooting wide from 20 yards. But on 34 minutes Burnley came very close to a goal when Blake shot from 6 yards only to see it thump back off the post as Cutler dived at his feet. Cutler must have got a touch as a corner was given, from which Stoke were able to break.

It was still end to end entertaining stuff as on 40 minutes Stoke produced a fine move. Gunnarsson played a neat searching pass into Cooke who spread it out to Van Duerzen on the left wing. His cross just eluded Mooney coming in and then Gudjonsson on the right. But then it was down to the other end where a defensive mixup looked like leading to a certain Burnley goal, but Handyside put in a magnificent block to prevent a shot from all of 3 yards! On 43 minutes Gudjonsson and Cooke linked well and a low cross into Mooney saw him turn, but he was unable to get his shot away from about 6 yards out. A minute later more Stoke pressure led to a corner, from which a header was flashed wide.

The half-time whistle went with the honours even in a very entertaining game. Burnley probably had the better chances, but Stoke had matched them, and deserved to be level at the break. The Stoke players left the pitch to a great ovation from the travelling hordes. During the half-time interval, former Stoke favourite Vinny Overson was brought on to the pitch to make the draw for the raffle. He was looking rather rotund, but received a good reception from the Stokies, and he returned this with many waves in our direction.

Burnley started the second half by making two substitutions and going straight for the throat. In the first minute they won a corner, which was cleared by Mooney. A minute later Burnley had a shot just wide from the edge of the area. On 48 minutes Stoke had their first attack of the second half. We were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out to the left of the D. Mooney's curling shot was going in at the near post until turned behind for a corner by the keeper. The resulting Gudjonsson corner was claimed by the keeper. Two minutes later we were pressing again, as Cooke gave chase and cut the ball square for Mooney. His shot was brilliantly tipped over by the keeper for a corner when it looked like a certain goal. The corner was headed wide by Cooke.

On 52 minutes Clarke put in a good tackle to concede a corner, from which Culter dropped the cross, and Stoke scrambled it clear. Three minutes later Clarke was involved again when a missed header put us in trouble, but he recovered well to clear for a corner. The resulting effort appeared to be cleared off the line! It was then Stoke's turn to attack. Cooke's run won a corner, and Van Duerzen's centre was claimed by the keeper. However a minute later a great ball in by Gudjonsson was headed just wide by Van Duerzen from 8 yards as he steamed into the area from the left. Two minutes later the Belgian's great cross-field ball got O'Connor behind the defence but his finish was disappointing and wide from just inside the area. A minute later at the other end Burnley blazed a shot wide from 8 yards. On 64 minutes Burnley had a header which hit the post and the subsequent shot deflected for a corner. From the clearance Gudjonsson ran clear from our half well into the Burnley half, and was brought down as he attempted to go round one of the last defenders. Needless to say, no free-kick was given! He was involved again a minute later. A Clarke free-kick on the left was flicked on by Gunnarsson and turned behind for a corner. The cross was punched away by the keeper and fell to Gudjonsson. Sadly he could only put his shot well over from 25 yards. (It nearly reached us in Row Z!)

On 69 minutes the hardworking Cooke went off to be replaced by Goodfellow, as Cotterill obviously still thought the game was there to be won. And after 72 minutes it looked like we could win it as we took the lead with a move of real quality. O'Connor advanced on goal before slipping the ball out to Van Duerzen on the left. His fine cross was met by Gudjonsson who nonchalantly side-footed a volley past the keeper from about 6 yards at a tight angle after coming into the box unmarked from the right. This went in right in front of the massed Stokies who went beserk! But sadly our joy lasted only a couple of minutes. Burnley went straight down the other end from the kick off and Culter had to make a fine save from a Shtaniuk clearing header to concede a corner but prevent an own goal. However that only delayed the equaliser for a few seconds as from the corner Gnohere was left totally unmarked to meet the cross from close range and send it into the net, silencing the Stokies who were mid-Delilah!

On 78 minutes Stoke were awarded a free-kick on the left side some 30 yards out. Gudjonsson's cross found Shtaniuk but he could only head over. Having looked like we were capabale of surviving anything Burnley could throw at us for much of the match, we conceded a second and ultimately lethal goal on 81 minutes. A quick free-kick in midfield caught Stoke napping, and Little put in a fine cross from the right to pick out substitute Papadopoulous running unmarked into the area, and he stooped to put in a header past Cutler's dive and into the far corner. Cotterill immediately withdrew the impressive Van Duerzen and replaced him with Commons.

However we soon lost any chance of a come-back as Mooney was sent off on 84 minutes in farcial circumstances. Mooney was about 40 yards out running towards goal when he was tackled crudely from behind by Grant and went down. The challenge itself merited a booking. Of course the ref saw nothing wong with this and waved play-on. The ball was cleared deep into the Stoke half and the ref turned away to follow play, as did the linesman. As Mooney got up from the entanglement he STOOD on the foot of Grant and it looked completely accidental and he immediately apologised to the Burnley player who of course was now acting like his foot had been sawn off! There were handbags as several Burnley players rushed in, followed by others making stamping gestures and the game was stopped. The ref and linesman had missed all of this, and at first it seemed they were going to be unable to react as they had not seen the incident. However the fourth official (or was it Burnley manager Stan Ternant?!!) informed the ref that Mooney had stamped on Grant, and the red card was brandished for the second game in a row. Mooney trouped off to great applause from the Stokies, but we knew any chance of salvaging a point had now gone out of the window.

Gunnarsson came off to be replaced by Hoekstra, but the Dutchman could not produce any magic. Burnley cruised to the final whistle, looking to add to their lead, and Stoke were left to rue more self-inflicted woe. They had matched Burnley all game, and with better concentration might have taken all 3 points. They deserved at least a draw, but this hard working and entertaining display was for nothing. Life is hard in the 1st Division!

Team Marks:

GK Cutler (7) Played very well apart from one shaky fumble. Not at fault for the goals

RB Thomas (7) Got forward well, played a lot better than of late.

LB Clarke (7) Played well for most of the game. Still persists in giving his man too much room. Linked well with Van Duerzen.

CB Shtaniuk (7) Looked fairly solid for most of the game. But where was he for the goals?

CB Handyside (7) A great block from 3 yards out. Good display but like Sthanner where was he for the goals?

RM Gudjonsson (7) A good display, supplying invention and crosses. Excellent cool finish to score.

CM O'Connor (6) Ran after everything as usual. Let us down with a couple of poor finishes and passing.

CM Gunnarsson (6) Again looked out of sorts and not up with the pace at times. Made a few good tackles and a couple of decent passes.

LM Van Duerzen (7) Added what we have been needing, some midfield grit combined with inteligence and creativity. Some good passing and came close to scoring. Brilliant ball in for Gudjonsson's goal. (STARMAN)

CF Mooney (7) Added a bit of flair and power to our forward line. Worked well with Cooke. Showed some nice touches. Unlucky to be sent off in my opinion.

CF Cooke (7) Eager to impress at his old club. Worked hard without much reward. Received a good ovtion from Stokies and Clarets when subbed.

SUBS

Goodfellow (6) Came on to give us some pace but rarely troubled the Burnley defence.

Commons (6) Came on too late to make an effect. A minute later Mooney was off, and there was no way back!

Hoekstra (6) Last throw of the dice substitution, and unable to get the ball let alone conjure up some magic with it.

Conclusion

This was a very entertaining game to watch with both sides playing some good football. Stoke matched Burnley for chances, and with better concentration might have taken all the points. Burnley looked like they were encountering a charmed Stoke net and maybe a goal might have elluded them. However, Stoke were there to shoot themselves in the foot again, and go to sleep when it mattered. We deserved at least a draw from this game. We have to learn to concentrate and play for the full 90 minutes, and learn from the cynical activities of opposing defences. We looked much better for having JVD and Bjarni in the side, and I hope Cotterill sticks with them for the midweek game at Brighton.

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