Dave Thornley kicks off the New Year for Clarets Mad with a reflection of the Clarets recent trip to South Wales.
Show of hands please; can anyone remember any other season in which the Clarets have established such complete dominance of their division as they are currently displaying?
The fourth division championship season of 1991-1992 perhaps? The season which the current shirt design pays a nod towards. There are some interesting similarities between that season and this: Then, as now, Burnley were under new management; then, as now, they began the season slowly; then, as now, they went on a long run of victories punctuated by a five-goal reverse at the home of their closest rivals and then, as now, Burnley played a brand of football which was exhilarating in its attacking intent.
The division championship back then was secured with two games remaining but if Vincent Kompany’s Clarets continue their current trajectory; the Championship title this season will be done and dusted much sooner.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, there is still a lot of football to be played, still things which can, and most probably will, present challenges. But the simple mathematical fact is that Burnley will have to lose five of their remaining twenty games, and third placed Blackburn win all twenty of theirs, for the Clarets to be caught.
The new years’ trip to Swansea City brought forth the latest set of three points. It is a measure of a good team that goals come from multiple sources. Last week, against Birmingham, Conor Roberts chipped in from his right back position; on Monday his full back partner in crime Ian Maatsen scored twice to set up the 2-1 away win.
Maatsen’s goals, both in the first half, came from a free kick – displaying a dead ball ability previously hidden – and a more speculative effort from the edge of the Swansea penalty area.
The previous fixture between the two teams, at Turf Moor in October, saw Burnley at their most fluent and relentless, sweeping Swansea aside by four goals to nil. On their own patch however, Swansea are usually a tad more resilient and shortly after Maatsen’s second goal they pulled one back.
Burnley though were able to hold on to their lead through the second half and complete the first of what is likely to be many league doubles.
The Championship season takes a pause now to accommodate the third round of the FA Cup, which for Burnley means a trip to Premier League Bournemouth and a chance to measure themselves against the sort of team they will need to beat next season if all goes to plan.
Bournemouth themselves are rumoured to be casting covetous glances in the direction of Josh Brownhill, hopefully this will come to naught, and the midfielder will continue his impressive form for the Clarets.
In the Turf Moor departure lounge, packed and ready to leave are Ashley Westwood, bound for the US, and Matt Lowton set to travel to Huddersfield Town. Both have been fine servants of the club and they depart Burnley Football Club with our best wishes and heartfelt thanks.
Finally, a word on the passing of the finest footballer I have ever seen or expected to see. As a young lad watching the 1970 World Cup Final on our very first colour telly, I realized the magnitude and the splendour of what I was watching. For 45 minutes football became poetry and Pele was at the heart of it, both muse and orator. Rest in peace great man, we will almost certainly never see your like again.
From the Editor's Chair at Clarets Mad.
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