Yesterday’s emphatic 4-1 win at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane stadium was an uplifting conclusion to what had otherwise been a melancholy twenty four hours for Burnley Football Club as news broke of the passing of Leighton James, one of the club’s most prominent and accomplished players.
For those of us old enough to have seen him play, his memory will burn bright in our collective memories; shoulders and head over a ball securely at his command; a sudden jink or burst of pace to rid him of the attentions of a defender; then a cross onto the grateful head of Fletcher, Casper or Hankin; or a cut inside before unleashing a powerful shot with either foot. James was in many ways the Gareth Bale of his day.
Although a Welshman to the very core of his being, he embraced life in Burnley to the extent of three spells at the club. His first was as a prodigious youngster, playing a prominent role in Burnley’s 1973 Second Division Championship team, then taking easily to life in the top division before Bob Lord sold him to the then Champions, Derby County.
But he joined the Rams just as the team built by Brian Clough had passed its peak effectiveness and he was moved on to QPR before re-joining Burnley, who by that time were treading water back in the Second Division.
His old Wales strike partner, John Toshack took him to Swansea, the final component of a second tier Championship winning Welsh team.
Spells at Bury and Newport followed before his third and final spell at Turf Moor saw him play a part in the Great Escape of the 1986-87 season, culminating in the Orient game where his experience and big match mentality were ***** in seeing Burnley through to continued Football League tenure.
If the Clarets are to mount a similar “Great Escape” this season, then they have at least given themselves a glimmer – no more – of hope by completing a League double over the hapless Blades to the tune of a 9-1 aggregate score.
The enigma of Arijanet Muric continues, after recent expensive blunders, he pulled off a string of impressive saves to repel early Sheffield pressure, before Jacob Brunn Larsen’s deflected daisy cutter gave Burnley the lead which was then doubled by Laurent Assignon’s shimmy and toe poke.
But a lead for Burnley this season never has the aura of security about it and it came as no surprise when Hamer pulled back a goal for the Blades early in the second half.
Our nerves were settled and fears laid to rest however when a skilfully constructed move was concluded by Assignon’s silky run and precise pass to Lyle Foster who tucked the ball neatly away.
This was followed almost immediately by Johann Berg Gudmundsson unmolested at the far post to score with a low left foot drive and place the destiny of the points beyond any reasonable doubt.
Burnley have now lost only one of their last seven games, signs, albeit late, that the squad is improving and having greater belief in themselves. The warm glow of this victory should not however obscure the harsh mathematical reality that in all likelihood, The Clarets will have to win three of their remaining four games to stand a chance of remaining in the Premier League; that means winning at either Old Trafford or White Hart Lane. A tall order indeed. (Dave Thornley scripted this piece.)
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