End of Season Review (Part 3 - ‘Tis to Glory We Steer)

[outwoodclaret]

It is of course wonderful when a plan comes together. I am not sure if Alan Pace, Vincent Kompany et al planned for an automatic promotion place in their pre-season meetings but as the Clarets forged clear at the top of the table at the beginning of 2023 it had leapt to the top of the agenda. Having preserved their unbeaten home record against Watford the Clarets travelled to Kenilworth Road to face a strong Luton team with promotion ambitions of their own. Chances were few but Burnley were awarded a late penalty for handball. Luton did not like it. Their skipper Tom Lockyer especially did not like it and was booked. It mattered not a jot. Ashley Barnes tucked away the penalty. Lockyer went on complaining, was booked again and sent off. Game over. Vincent Kompany liked it.

A draw against a hungry Millwall side at the Den was followed by a comprehensive walloping of Warnock’s Terriers. Colin paid the victors tribute. "They [Burnley] are the best (Championship) side I've seen in 25 years really”. Still only the 21 best in the League pyramid as Vincent was apt to remind anyone who asked. Just to emphasise the point the Clarets dropped points for a second time in the season against relegation haunted Blackpool at Bloomfield Road as they were held 0-0. Wins at home to Wigan and away at Hull followed by a 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland left Burnley on the brink of securing one of the automatic promotion places as they travelled to play free-scoring Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Barnes gave Burnley an early lead and, after marksman Chuba Akpom had levelled matters from the spot, Connor Roberts was perfectly placed to convert Nathan Tella’s pass for the winning goal. With seven games still to go (a Championship record) Burnley were celebrating promotion on the Riverside pitch.

Next up were Sheffield United at Turf Moor. The Blades could still challenge Burnley for the title and had thrashed the Clarets 5-2 at Bramhall Lane. Revenge was in the air. With just over fif**** minutes gone a calamitous mix up between Sheffield keeper Foderingham and defender Robinson allowed Tella to nip in between them and last man Foderingham blatantly hauled down Tella just outside the penalty area earning himself a red card. Two second half goals from Johann Berg Gudmundsson secured the points against the ten man Blades. With a 14 point lead over Sheffield United and a run of three fixtures against teams in the relegation zone it seemed a formality for Burnley to wrap up the title.

The Clarets could only pick up two points with successive away draws at Reading and Rotherham but would then face what was quite simply the worst performing team of 2023 in the whole of the Championship- Queens Park Rangers- at Turf Moor. Burnley were unbeaten on their home ground. What could possibly go wrong? Staggeringly QPR resisted all Burnley’s first half attacks before snatching a second half lead. The Clarets came back with a stunning equaliser from the mercurial Benson but the visitors still had time to snatch a late winner.

It would all come down now to the next game at Ewood. When you consider everything that had gone on at the club over the previous 12 months, the sacking of Sean Dyche, the heartbreak of relegation, the exodus of star players, the financial uncertainty, a new team forged under a new manager, could there have been any more fitting place for a title decider to take place than at the home of their East Lancashire neighbours and bitter rivals? Rovers had themselves barely been out of the top 6 all season but were now in desperate search of the points that would secure a play off place. The stakes, high as they were, were raised further by the shameful decision by Rovers to cut the away ticket allocation to just 2,000. Burnley Chairman Alan Pace refused to attend the match in solidarity with fans who were being denied tickets. The atmosphere was electric but at half-time it was goalless just as it had been at the same stage at Turf Moor. Just before the hour mark Kompany brought on Cork and Benson for Gudmundsson and Vitinho. Eight minutes later Cork’s pass released Benson just inside the Rovers half. Dancing down the wing he teased Rovers defender Harry Pickering before cutting inside and unleashing a sublime shot that arced past the despairing dive of Pears in the Rovers goal. There was still time for Barnes to have an (unseen) hand or rather arm in proceedings before the final whistle signalled joy unconfined for Clarets everywhere. I do not think anyone who witnessed those scenes on the Ewood pitch will ever forget them. This was the stuff dreams are made of.

The season was wrapped up with wins over Bristol City at Ashton Gate and then Cardiff at Turf Moor on the final day to take Burnley to 101 league points for the season. For Vincent Kompany, who was part of a Manchester City side who scored over 100 goals and reached 100 points in the 2017/18 season, this was a personal triumph in his first season of management in England. For Alan Pace it was a vindication of his vision for the club in a season that also brought success for Burnley FC Women. For the players there was individual recognition for Ian Maatsen, Connor Roberts, Josh Brownhill and Nathan Tella in the Championship team of the season but it was the whole squad, every single one who took part from that curtain raiser at Huddersfield, who earned the end of season triumph. For me as a fan, who had seen the promotions from the second tier in 1972/73, 2008/09, 2013/14 & 2015/16, this in 2022/23 was the finest of them all. Burnley are back in the Premier League with all the advantages (and pitfalls) that entails. How they will compete at that level remains to be seen. While there was an FA Cup victory against Premier League Bournemouth, there were defeats to both Manchester United and Manchester City in the Cup competitions. Vincent Kompany has signed a new long term contract. Turf Moor may not be his forever home but we have him now and Burnley will consequently have more appeal to the kind of signings we will need to make our mark in the top division. The new season will begin on 12 August 2023 and we will be ready. I can’t wait to see the fixture list.

[kritichris]

A neat hat-trick outwood, pat yourself on the back (of your avatar).

[outwoodclaret]

A neat hat-trick outwood, pat yourself on the back (of your avatar).

Thank you kc.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

My seven year old grandson can’t wait to see the fixtures either Sir Outwood, the lad really is Burnley daft.

[Supersub6]

Thanks for your season review, Outwood, as usual a very good read.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I'm going to chronicle these three parts into one long read Sir Outwood and save it for posterity.

[sinkov]

Cheers Outwood, good stuff as ever.

[alfinyalcabo]

Cheers Outwood another top read.👌