Leeds away by Dave...

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Dave Thornley has truly got his mojo back. Three points hard-earned at Elland Road has done it.

Go on Dave… Yes, it was a perfect example of a smash and grab; yes, we gave the ball away too often particularly in the second half; and yes, a better team than Leeds would have certainly beaten us, but despite all that, boy did that win feel good.

Burnley don’t often win at Leeds United Elland Road stadium, but in yesterday lunchtime’s Championship fixture, the Clarets delivered one of those rare triumphs in a performance that owed almost everything to resilience, organisation, hard work and sheer bloody-mindedness.

Leeds away can rightly be considered in all likelihood to be one of the Championship’s tougher assignments, so to emerge from it with all three points can, even at this early stage of the season, be considered a significant victory.

Burnley were grateful that Leeds spurred a very early chance when Matteo Joseph scooped the ball wide with only James Trafford between him and the goal. In a way, it set the tone for the whole match.

Trafford’s career at Burnley has, thus far, been turbulent, but yesterday he gave perhaps his best performance for the Clarets, making two excellent saves and showing greater authority than had been previously seen; his collection of a dangerous stoppage time cross through a crowd of leaping bodies was practically Pope-like.

He still dawdles too much with the ball at his feet when crisper distribution could launch attacks, but that is nit-picking, he is showing signs of becoming the goalkeeper Burnley hoped he would become when they signed him.
The only goal of the game came in the 18th minute when Luca Koleosho seized on a slip by the ham-inept Solomon and sprinted the length of Elland Road before tucking the ball neatly into the corner of the Leeds net.

Thereafter, despite conceding far more possession than I for one was comfortable with, Burnley’s grit and determination saw them through.

In an often-feisty match, it is necessary not to shirk from the battle and in Hannibal Burnley have acquired a player perfectly suited to this kind of situation.

His revelling in the abuse hurled at him from Leeds fans as he circumnavigated the touchline on being substituted will become an abiding memory. He will undoubtedly become a card magnet, and that will lead to suspensions, but his value to the Clarets as the season unfolds will be immense.

Talking of suspensions, Bashir Humphrey’s promising Burnley debut, pressed into service in an unfamiliar right back position, was ended early with a second yellow card, it came deep into stoppage time and had little material effect on the remainder of the game, but was nevertheless a small stain on an otherwise excellent result.

After navigating their way through visits to Luton, Sunderland and Leeds, as well as a home local derby, the Clarets now have a theoretically friendlier run of fixtures. Things are looking positive.

All we need to do is keep hold of Luca Koleosho! (The Editors Chair - Clarets Mad.)

[outwoodclaret]

It was fated (almost “to the Manor born” one could say) that Solomon should, when showing a distinct lack of wisdom in trying to outturn Koleosho, slip and concede possession. After a fairly torrid transfer window Clarets fans seem in general to have got their mojo back with the general in question Hannibal helping to energise the Burnley midfield with an air of devilry. There was certainly no shirking of challenges at Elland Road with Josh Brownhill putting his head into a very meaty clash. Onward and upward.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

It was fated (almost “to the Manor born” one could say) that Solomon should, when showing a distinct lack of wisdom in trying to outturn Koleosho, slip and concede possession. After a fairly torrid transfer window Clarets fans seem in general to have got their mojo back with the general in question Hannibal helping to energise the Burnley midfield with an air of devilry. There was certainly no shirking of challenges at Elland Road with Josh Brownhill putting his head into a very meaty clash. Onward and upward.

With the likes of Foster, Beyer, Ramsey & Roberts gone AWOL, their return will make us one of the strongest squads in the division. There was no doubt that Parker has got the lads singing from the same hymn sheet, with Hannibal directing the choir.

[ballcock]

Parker and Pace are doing a sterling job mopping up the fiasco of the last 12 months. Parker is building a squad of players who will give their all and wear the shirt with pride

I have been extremely negative about the club over the last 12 months. I can now see that the summer sale was in the best interest of the long term survival of BFC. We now have a manager in SP who gets the club and is not in it for his self interest. We would never have defended a slim lead like that with Kompany at the helm, as last season proved.

With the likes of Tressor, Ramsey, Foster, Roberts and Beyer all waiting in the wings, the squad is more than capable of going h2h with any side at this level.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Parker and Pace are doing a sterling job mopping up the fiasco of the last 12 months. Parker is building a squad of players who will give their all and wear the shirt with pride

I have been extremely negative about the club over the last 12 months. I can now see that the summer sale was in the best interest of the long term survival of BFC. We now have a manager in SP who gets the club and is not in it for his self interest. We would never have defended a slim lead like that with Kompany at the helm, as last season proved.

With the likes of Tressor, Ramsey, Foster, Roberts and Beyer all waiting in the wings, the squad is more than capable of going h2h with any side at this level.

Spot on my mate, spot on.

[kritichris]

All very positive but we still need a striker/poacher like Ings in the mix.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

All very positive but we still need a striker/poacher like Ings in the mix.

We have Foster & Flemming with Jay Rod fired up and ready to go. False tens, false nines, who needs a striker?

[kritichris]

We have Foster & Flemming with Jay Rod fired up and ready to go. False tens, false nines, who needs a striker?

Perhaps I should have said prolific, none of the above could be described as such.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Perhaps I should have said prolific, none of the above could be described as such.

Unless we sell Foster in January, I'd be surprised if he does not score 20.

[kritichris]

Unless we sell Foster in January, I'd be surprised if he does not score 20.

Burton's window beckons.