Dave's back from Spain and writes...
Back from a holiday in Spain, and time to catch up on what has transpired at Burnley Football Club during my absence.
Well, it seems from reports received from media comments, and a first-hand description from my son, who attended the Preston game as my proxy, not much.
A 1-0 win over Plymouth, courtesy of a Josh Brownhill penalty, became such an exercise in tedious pragmatism as to make Burnley under Sean Dyche look like Newcastle under Kevin Keegan.
My abiding memory of that match is how Burnley lost all interest in pursuing a second goal and brought the game to its climax by spending three of the six minutes of stoppage time milling around the corner flag. As I made my way home from Turf Moor, I mused that this wasn’t what I paid my money to witness.
Nevertheless, it was a win and three points. Goalless draws away to Oxford and in the aforementioned home game with Preston, led us into the international break still in good shape on the league table, but with questions being raised at increasing volumes as to the Clarets’ style of play and their perceived lack of forward punch.
At least some of those gripes were eased at Hillsborough yesterday afternoon with a more purposeful display, particularly in the second half, yielding a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Having dealt with some early huffing and puffing from the hosts, Burnley took the lead as the first half drew to a close. A long ball from the increasingly assured CJ Egan-Riley fell to the feet of Wednesday defender Yan Valery, but his mis-control was seized upon by Jaidon Anthony who calmly tucked the ball into the corner of the Wednesday goal.
The lead was doubled shortly after the break, when the Wednesday defence parted like the Red Sea and allowed Zian Flemming through on goal. The recovering defender did just enough to cause Flemming to shoot off-balance, but Josh Brownhill, following up as a good midfielder should, was on hand to volley in the rebound from six yards out.
Brownhill’s goal was his fifth of the season so far, he is in outstanding form and is surely one of the best midfield players in the Championship. Long may it continue. It seems "Our Josh" loves to play against teams from Sheffield.
Whatever reservations remain about Scott Parker’s Burnley and their style of play may be assuaged by the sight of the Clarets perched at the top of the table after their first ten games. Ten games which have served to confirm that there is little in the Championship to cause alarm, or to suggest anything other than Burnley will be spending the bulk of the season in and around the upper reaches of the table.
This may not be a Burnley team to stir the soul and linger fondly in the memory, but it is a team that can be relied upon to get the job done.
