Dave does a Parker U-turn & grovel...
Clarets Mad writer-in-chief Dave Thornley offers Scott Parker a sincere apology.
In previous posts, I had been critical of what I had perceived to be a sterility and lack of attacking intent in Burnley?s play, after a week yielding three wins, five goals and nine points however, it would seem that Parker?s tactics and style of play are showing clear signs of bearing fulsome fruitfulness.
Firstly, a one-nil win at Bristol?s Ashton Gate, played in the teeth of Storm Bert. Given the conditions, this was never going to be a classic; rather it was a game where grit, determination and bloody-mindedness were required.
Jaidon Anthony?s close range finish midway through the first half proved to be enough to settle a tight game, with Bristol coming on strong in the last quarter of the match and leaving the Clarets to be grateful for a James Trafford save and a Josh Brownhill handball which went undetected.
The following Tuesday saw the visit of then managerless Coventry City to Turf Moor and what turned out to be a fairly routine and hassle-free 2-0 win, a rather mundane first half had me pondering on my choice to miss the final of Bake Off.
Burnley however were to prevail, courtesy of two second half goals, the first from Jeremy Sarmiento finishing off Anthony?s neat right wing cross; the second, scored by CJ Egan-Riley after he had battled hard to win the ball and scoop a left-footed cross which was aimed at the far post but instead drifted into the Coventry goal.
It was no more than the consistently excellent Egan-Riley deserved. A peripheral figure in the previous two seasons, a latter-day Kevin Long, if you will, but when given the chance due to Joe Worrall?s injury, he has taken it with aplomb. Composed on the ball, strong in the challenge and positionally aware, the ?find of the season? was right under our noses all along.
And so to Stoke?s annoyingly named Bet 365 Stadium for yesterday afternoon?s fixture against the Potters, settled by two more second half goals; a tap-in from Jay Rodriguez, after Josh Laurent had turned Conor Roberts? deep cross into his path, and a penalty awarded after Josh Cullen had been felled in the Stoke box. Josh Brownhill driving home the spot kick (so many Joshes!)
Parker has constructed this team to be resilient and defend strongly; a template not unlike the way title and promotion-winning Burnley teams under Stan Ternent and Sean Dyche were built.
Remember, one of the main attractions of Parker to the Clarets? owners were that he was a course and distance winner with two of his previous clubs. He knows what is required to get a team out of the Championship and has set about moulding the squad accordingly. It might not be as sleek and as easy on the eye as it was two seasons ago, but it is getting the job done and at the end of the day, that is what matters.
Tough tests await of course, starting with the visit of free-scoring Middlesbrough next Friday evening. Irresistible force versus immovable object. Let?s see who comes out on top.
Editor?s note: I must add a heartfelt compliment to the best centre-back pairing in the Championship who are making young James Trafford?s matchdays a piece of cake. Stand up and take a bow, Maxime Esteve & CJ Egan Riley. (TEC.)
