Dave does the Ewood game...

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Clarets Mad match analyst Dave Thornley who is currently bronzing and gloating whilst lying on a Spanish sunbed, reports directly on the Rovers defeat at the hands of Championship winners Burnley from the warmer climes of Barcelona. It’s Burnley not Barcelona Dave!

At exactly sixty-seven minutes into Burnley’s Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday evening at Ewood Park, Clarets’ substitute Manuel Benson received the ball wide on the right wing and proceeded at a destructive pace until he was roughly level with the Rovers penalty area.

From that position, he cut inside and with the ball now on his left foot, he unleashed a shot which imitated an arc arrowing through the dark Lancashire night and beyond the grasp of the clutching at thin air Pears in the Blackburn goal.

Burnley supporters had seen Benson score similar goals several times during the season, indeed, he had done so in each of Burnley’s previous two matches. Blackburn’s defence would have been aware of this, if not, they should have been, but were still unable to prevent the goal.

This though, was no ordinary goal, this goal is destined for a prominent and forever place in the folklore of Burnley Football Club. If Manuel Benson never scores another goal during the rest of his career, he can retire safe in the knowledge that his seismic goal won the Championship for his team at the home of their most bitter rivals.

Had the title been secured at Bristol on Saturday, or by virtue of Sheffield United dropping points (not a term I like) then this remarkable season would have been concluded in something of an anti-climax, but winning the League at Ewood Park was a perfect conclusion to a perfect season.

It matters that the League was won in this way, it matters to those of us old enough to remember the jibes when Burnley were shuffling around the bottom two divisions. The insulting fly past before the play off semi-final against Torquay United, then seeing Blackburn win the Premier League whilst the Clarets were being relegated. We have had a lot to put up with, but on Tuesday evening karma turned full circle, it’s our turn now.

Not that it was easy, along with many other Burnley fans, I am fair-minded enough to acknowledge that over the span of the game, Blackburn were the more purposeful team. Furthermore, Ashley Barnes was lucky to get away with a handball late in the game which, if spotted, would have been punished with a penalty.

In addition, a different referee might have shown Jack Cork a red, rather than a yellow card for a challenge charitably described as robust shortly after he had been introduced from the bench. I do, however, remain comfortable in the certain knowledge that these happenings and deliberations balance themselves out over a full season.

It was a thing of beauty and joy for Clarets’ fan to hear the Blackburn manager whinge and moan during his obligatory post-match interview. He suggests “parachute payments” are the only difference between the two teams. I think the difference might simply be the current thirty-point gap that separates the two teams.

Cork and Benson came on at the same time and both made a significant contribution, Benson obviously with the decisive goal, but Cork added much needed grit and growl to the Burnley midfield. In putting himself about with aggression, he disrupted some of Blackburn’s rhythm and paved the way for Benson to launch his decisive attack.

Words of praise too for Charlie Taylor and Ameen Al Dakhil, a makeshift central defensive pairing after Jordan Beyer had pulled out through injury. Between them they held Blackburn at bay when pressure was applied at its most intense.

Aro Muric’s sure touch at dealing with crosses was truly Popesque, illustrating a considerable improvement in this area throughout the course of the season. He looked secure and bred justifiable confidence throughout the rest of the team.

A touch of irony therefore that for all the flowing football we have been treated to this season, for all Vincent Kompany has transformed Burnley’s playing style, this was a victory achieved much in the manner of the recent past, a breakaway goal protected by resolute defending. It wasn’t a great leap of the imagination to envisage Sean Dyche barking orders from out of the technical area as Burnley won yet again at Ewood Park.

Whilst it was disappointing that only a miserly 2000 tickets were made available to Burnley fans, those who experienced the game on television will no doubt still feel a part of it and recount stories to generations of Clarets still not born about how we won the Championship in April 2023 at Ewood Park.

Thanks Dave, enjoy the rest of your holiday, I am now hoping we can win our next two games and breakthrough the 100 points milestone. (TEC.)

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[Swissclaret]

Thanks BT. A memorable night indeed. I hope that we do win our final two matches to end the season on a positive note.

I am looking forward to the transfer window to see what the next step is in the «*project*». The pairing of VK and the Premier League could attract some more talent at the next level of ability - not that there is much wrong with what have, except for the threat of recalls of the loanee players. If they return to their parent clubs there will some some big holes to fill.

Hopefully, too, Alan Pace will have a far more positive and ambitious approach to recruitment than his predecessors.

[kritichris]

Bravo! Well said that man.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Thanks BT. A memorable night indeed. I hope that we do win our final two matches to end the season on a positive note.

I am looking forward to the transfer window to see what the next step is in the «*project*». The pairing of VK and the Premier League could attract some more talent at the next level of ability - not that there is much wrong with what have, except for the threat of recalls of the loanee players. If they return to their parent clubs there will some some big holes to fill.

Hopefully, too, Alan Pace will have a far more positive and ambitious approach to recruitment than his predecessors.

Alan Pace has already demonstrated that he has a far more positive and ambitious approach to recruitment than his predecessors ever did S_c. The last time I looked he had authorised the signing of 19 first team players. If we add and subtract half a dozen and bring in 6 x EPL quality players we will finish better than mid-table IMHO.

[Swissclaret]

Alan Pace has already demonstrated that he has a far more positive and ambitious approach to recruitment than his predecessors ever did S_c. The last time I looked he had authorised the signing of 19 first team players. If we add and subtract half a dozen and bring in 6 x EPL quality players we will finish better than mid-table IMHO.

Good point BT. I watched the interview with VK on Clarets player. He didn’t give too much away. He seemed relaxed about the prospect of the loan players not being there and repeated the desire to develop players to become PL quality. In his view, developing players will take us past other clubs in the PL.

It is going to be a fascinating summer and I am guessing that there will already be a shortlist of players identified and spoken with.