Dave's take on the Watford win...

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Dave Thornley gets his chat on with his review from Vicarage Road. Following last week’s piece covering Burnley’s victories over Southampton and Wolves, a reader commented that under Mike Jackson, Burnley are playing with greater attacking intent and freedom of expression. I paraphrase, but you get the gist.
Whilst that is undeniably an accurate assessment (and I am grateful to any and all who take the time to read these weekly musing and pass comment upon them, good or bad) I think that there is another factor at play in the Clarets’ revival since the departure of Sean Dyche; namely that for the players it must have been akin to being awoken from their slumber by means of a bucket of cold water; a jolt, a shock to the system, a kick up the backside. Call it what you will.
This has clearly had as much of a galvanising effect than any of the tactical tweaks or changes in emphasis that Jackson and Ben Mee have installed since they were charged with running the team.
The latest manifestation of this came in yesterday’s 2-1 victory over Watford; a club whose players have surely become so immune to the sight of a different car in the manager’s parking spot when they arrive at the training ground, that it no longer causes a ripple of surprise, let alone a shock to their collective being.
Yesterday’s performance and the three points it yielded was the clearest example yet of the unifying forces at work in creating the Burnley revival.
In far too many previous matches, most recently in the defeat at Norwich, Burnley’s attempts at overturning an early deficit have been half-hearted and lacklustre. Yesterday the Clarets began the game poorly, fell a goal behind (an unfortunate own goal after the ball rebounded off the crossbar and struck James Tarkowski on the knee) and struggled to establish a foothold in the game.
But as the game progressed into the second half, Burnley asserted themselves with greater conviction; they began to construct a consistent threat down each wing; they tested the Watford defence by pressing hard in midfield, making probing forward runs and taking on shots at goal whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Wout Weghorst looked a frustrated and unhappy man when he was withdrawn for Ashley Barnes after an hour. Good, I like to see players express disappointment when being subbed off, it shows that they set themselves standards and value their own performance, it also gives them a point to prove to the manager next time out.
The change however was both astute and timely; Barnes, the agent provocateur, the disrupter-in-chief, the king of stoppage time corner flagging was precisely what Burnley needed at that stage of the game. He almost scored, when his header drew a brilliant reaction save out of Watford’s Ben Foster and his presence occupied the home defenders to an extent with which they were clearly uncomfortable.
As the game drew towards its conclusion Burnley remained on the front foot and were rewarded first after eighty-three minutes, when Jack Cork flung himself at Charlie Taylor’s deep cross and headed it into the net for the equaliser.
At 1-1 Burnley were not yet done; three minutes later a free kick was only half-cleared, Josh Brownhill received the ball just inside the Watford penalty area and calmly slotted a low shot into the corner of the Watford goal.
The three points pulled Burney five points clear of the bottom three, mathematically relegated Norwich City and to all intents and purposes did the same to Watford; whose current manager, Roy Hodgson, was curiously inanimate throughout and in his sunglasses looked for all the world like the eponymous protagonist of “Weekend at Bernies”. Perhaps he has given up any notion that his team can remain in the Premier League?
Fortunately, Burnley have not and although far from being secure, much of the pressure the Clarets were under has now been transferred to Everton and Leeds.

Attachment 21675

[Supersub6]

As usual, a good report. however, Roy Hodgson had been quite poorly all week and had to leave things to his backrrom staff. Credit to him though because he turned up ----old school is Roy!

[sinkov]

Three things about the game struck a chord with me. The first was the most recent memory, it was good old Bashley doing what he does best, in the space of not much more than ten seconds, he laid out two Watford players and won us a free-kick, from which came the winning goal.

The second memory was from Deepdale just over 11 years ago, Jack Cork scoring a late winner there for us, with almost a carbon copy of the diving header he scored here.

The third one takes me back into the mists of time, after our goals and at the final whistle, some players were celebrating by leaping into the air like gazelles, I haven't seen celebrations like that since England won the World Cup at Wembley in 66.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Three things about the game struck a chord with me. The first was the most recent memory, it was good old Bashley doing what he does best, in the space of not much more than ten seconds, he laid out two Watford players and won us a free-kick, from which came the winning goal.

The second memory was from Deepdale just over 11 years ago, Jack Cork scoring a late winner there for us, with almost a carbon copy of the diving header he scored here.

The third one takes me back into the mists of time, after our goals and at the final whistle, some players were celebrating by leaping into the air like gazelles, I haven't seen celebrations like that since England won the World Cup at Wembley in 66.

And then following three well earned points, f*cking Chelsea just rollover and compromise the integrity of the EPL. If this was horse racing there would have been a Steward's enquiry.;

[sinkov]

And then following three well earned points, f*cking Chelsea just rollover and compromise the integrity of the EPL. If this was horse racing there would have been a Steward's enquiry.;

I'm a bit confused about the Goodison game, some fans say Pickford saved Everton by playing the game of his life, others say Chelsea threw it. So which was it, they can't both be right.

[Norder]

.

I'm a bit confused about the Goodison game, some fans say Pickford saved Everton by playing the game of his life, others say Chelsea threw it. So which was it, they can't both be right.

you know the score - Sinkov....they have to big him up, it makes it all the more convincing .

essentialy...Poxford runs across goal, shot straight at him - shot from close range, hits him in the face...and pliss poor shot to his right..that I think even I could have saved.

and Everdone get their goal because of a defensive blunder.... .

(imo) was comedic.




thanks Dave....though unfortunately, no longer are we "five points clear of he bottom 3" .

[Claret_Matelot]

It was nice to see the 'Manager' on the pitch with the players before kick off assisting with the warm up. He also shows passion on the touchline and acknowledges players as they are subbed. The big tactical change was switching the two wingers back to their 'natural' position with McNeil on the left and Lennon on right, and of course bringing Bashley on.
Some 'Fans' on Twitter are giving Bashley grief for not running down to the away fans after the second goal. For those that listened to Mr Birds commentary will realize that he remained in the Watford half so they couldn't take the quick kick-off with all the Burnley players in front of us celebrating. Clever man.....

[sinkov]

It was nice to see the 'Manager' on the pitch with the players before kick off assisting with the warm up. He also shows passion on the touchline and acknowledges players as they are subbed. The big tactical change was switching the two wingers back to their 'natural' position with McNeil on the left and Lennon on right, and of course bringing Bashley on.
Some 'Fans' on Twitter are giving Bashley grief for not running down to the away fans after the second goal. For those that listened to Mr Birds commentary will realize that he remained in the Watford half so they couldn't take the quick kick-off with all the Burnley players in front of us celebrating. Clever man.....

Well said CM, there's nowt so thick as the Twitterati, and there's nowt so thick as some football fans, put the two together and this is what you get.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Well said CM, there's nowt so thick as the Twitterati, and there's nowt so thick as some football fans, put the two together and this is what you get.

And you should know better too mon ami!

[sinkov]

And you should know better too mon ami!

About what ?