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Burnley 1-0 Town
Saturday, 26th Apr 2014 14:17

Michael Kightly’s 54th minute goal saw already-promoted Burnley to a 1-0 victory over Town at Turf Moor and ended the Blues’ hopes of reaching the play-offs. Tommy Smith had a first-half header nodded off the line and sub Paul Taylor’s late freekick was well saved, but overall the Clarets deserved their victory.

Frazer Richardson was handed the right midfield role — rather than the central position anticipated before kick-off - with Paul Anderson missing out with the hamstring injury he aggravated in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

Paul Green came into the centre alongside Cole Skuse with Anthony Wordsworth missing out with the dead leg he suffered on Monday. Luke Hyam remains on the sidelines with a hip flexor strain.

Christophe Berra was back at the heart of the defence with skipper Luke Chambers moving to right-back. Freddie Veseli was on the bench for the first time since he returned from his loan spell at Bury.

Having confirmed their promotion via a 2-0 win against Wigan on Monday, Burnley, wearing a vintage kit to celebrate their 1914 FA Cup win, struck the game’s first shot in the second minute, Scott Arfield’s effort deflecting wide from Danny Ings’s knockdown.

Daryl Murphy hit the first shot of the game for the Blues, who were wearing last season’s white and black away kit, from the edge of the box in the 10th minute but Ben Mee blocked.

Ashley Barnes just failed to reach Ings’s knockdown in the 11th minute as the home fans began a round of applause in tribute to Robbie Williamson, an 11-year-old boy who died earlier in the week after falling in a canal.

On 20 Burnley keeper Tom Heaton came off his line quickly to claim ahead of Stephen Hunt, but largely both keepers had been spectators.

Smith was booked for a tactical foul on Ings in the 25th minute after Aaron Cresswell had given the ball away midway inside the Blues’ half.

The New Zealand international was close to opening the scoring two minutes later when Kieran Trippier nodded his header off the line and over after Berra had knocked Richardson’s corner from the right back across the edge of the six-yard box.


The Blues were starting to look more dangerous, winning a number of corners. But on the half hour, following one of those Town flagkicks, the Clarets broke quickly but Arfield was unable to direct Kightly’s right-wing cross towards goal. On 33, Gerken claimed Barnes’s shot down to his right.

Burnley skipper Jason Shackell cut out Chambers’s right-sided cross as a rather lacklustre half moved into its final five minutes.

Murphy and Jonny Williams exchanged passes on the left in the 41st minute, the Irishman whipping over a teasing cross to the far post which Richardson couldn’t direct goalwards when under pressure from Kightly.

A minute later, Ings shot in to the side-netting, then Murphy cut in from the right before shooting across the face of goal. The less than exciting first period was brought to a close with no further significant action.

Town probably had the best chance of the first 45 minutes, with Smith’s header goal-bound until Trippier’s intervention.

But overall the Blues never gave the impression that they were a side desperately in need of three points to stay in the play-off race.

At the other end, Gerken hadn’t been seriously tested, although Burnley frontmen Ings and Barnes had had one or two threatening moments.

The home side took the lead with the second half’s first opportunity in the 54th minute. Barnes fed Ings, who took the ball into the area past Chambers before the advancing Gerken blocked, but Kightly, who played for Blues boss Mick McCarthy at Wolves, tapped the loose ball home from close range.

Immediately Blues subs Taylor, Frank Nouble and Jack Marriott started warming up on the touchline.

Ings shot not too far wide from distance just prior to the hour mark before the Clarets swapped Junior Stanislas for Kightly. Two minutes later, after Williams had received what looked like a high boot to the head inside the penalty area, Taylor and Nouble replaced Hunt and Richardson as the Blues moved to 4-3-3.

There was a scare for Town in the 69th minute when Stanislas nodded Dave Jones’s freekick from the right back across the box but Smith was on hand to block Barnes’s shot. Moments later, the Town centre-half similarly got in the way of an Ings strike with the Blues somewhat under the cosh.

Burnley almost went two goals in front in the 73rd minute when Ings crashed Dean Marney’s low cross from the right against the underside of the bar, the loose ball falling safely.

The Clarets were continuing to look the more likely scorers with the Blues rarely threatening Heaton’s goal. On 78 Green did well to intercept Marney’s ball for Stanislas as the home side broke after a Town corner.

The Blues weren’t far from an equaliser in the 80th minute when Heaton clawed Taylor’s curling 20-yard freekick wide after Green had been fouled by Michael Duff.

Williams was booked for a foul on the veteran Burnley defender soon after, then Nouble looped a powerful shot over from the edge of the box, the first signs that the Blues might stage a fightback in the final few minutes.

Nouble curled another effort wide on 88, then in the final minute centre-half Berra, who had by now been thrown forward as an additional striker, flicked Taylor’s excellent right-wing cross just wide.

But the comeback which would have taken Town’s play-off challenge into the final week of the season never came, Brighton’s victory over Yeovil last night having put the Seagulls four points ahead of the Blues.

Overall, it was an underwhelming manner in which to end the push for sixth place, Town having shown little urgency until after the home side had gone in front.

Even after Taylor and Nouble had been introduced, Burnley continued to look the more likely scorers — and Ings was unlucky not to increase their lead when he hit the bar - with the former Peterborough man’s freekick the nearest the Blues got to an equaliser.

Burnley: Heaton, Tripper, Shackell (c), Duff, Mee, Arfield (Wallace 71), Marney, Jones, Kightly (Stanislas 63), Barnes, Ings (Treacy 90). Unused: Cisak, Edgar, Baird, Long.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Cresswell, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Richardson (Nouble 65), Green, Hunt (Taylor 65), Williams, Murphy. Unused: Loach, Mings, Veseli, Tabb, Marriott. Referee: James Linington (Newport, Isle of Wight). Att: 14,574 (Town: 460).


Photo: Action Images



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irishtim added 14:21 - Apr 26
We are a work in progress. Hopefully we can push on and be up there next season. Thanks lads for a much improved season.
5

TractorBoy666 added 14:22 - Apr 26
Considering we had to go for it today, that was very poor. 1 striker just didn't work yet again??? That was hard to watch at times but it's been a better season than the other seasons some would say. The quality of football though was poor. We have a free kick specialist in Taylor who the manager doesn't like and Nouble looked okay again from the bench. Oh well, at least we can relax next weekend I guess!!
25

honder_ITFC added 14:26 - Apr 26
Great season overall...really looking forward to the next now.
-2

blueboy1981 added 14:26 - Apr 26
What an effort when there should have been only one objective from the off - to WIN this match.

Would think the travelling faithful feels sadly let down by this lame effort.

Don't make excuses (the normal few who normally do) - this was indefensibly inadequate when we desperately needed to WIN this one.
27

Luka added 14:26 - Apr 26
While it is disappointing to miss out on the playoffs, look at Town now, and look at how it was last season. Very good season, especially with the lack of Chairman support, is a good effort. Now, needs building on. Sell Cresswell, buy two centre-mids, and a left winger. Anderson looked good at the end of the season, so may as well start him wide right.
-8

Keaneish added 14:27 - Apr 26
Work in progress or not, I still expect my midfield to turn up in a do our die fixture and smash an easy 15k box to box. Skuse barely did half that. Very apathetic today but we all know the game was up when we lost at Watford.

Good season which brings lots of optimism for next year. 5 or 6 players to leave in the summer and McCarthy has got to stop waiting until the 60th minute to attack teams.
18

tractordownsouth added 14:27 - Apr 26
It was unlikely it would happen this year. Time to rebuild. Great freebies out there. Can have some cash transfers when cresswell leaves. Rome wasnt built in a day...
Without spending it was always going to be difficult, burnley and derby are the only top six clubs without great finances but it can be done with more work!
Onwards and upwards!
COYB!
2

MonterreyBlue added 14:29 - Apr 26
Ive not actually watched Town play for a while, am living in Mexico and luckily today i managed to get the live streaming instead of just listening on Ipswich Player (had to get up at 5am). Honestly, i thought we were pretty poor but as we all accept, work in progress and possibly we have the core of a good team but are missing pace, creativity and imagination. i thought we were extremely predicatable / boring and obviously gone are the days of pass and move the Ipswich way, instead just lumping it forward and hoping for the best. A Mick Mcarthy team has to be winning or we look workmanlike and boring.

So, progress has clearly been made, extremely jealous of Burnley GK who i thought looked extremely confident and controlled, plus a top save from Taylors free kick. In a perfect world, i would throw in a new GK, 2 FAST wingers, a creative attacking midfielder and we are in with a shout next season.

Well done lads on the season, its been a long time since we have been in the mix at the end and bring on next season and a realistic promotion push.

COYB.
14

Michael11 added 14:31 - Apr 26
Totally inept performance today. Tactically wrong to start a must win game with Richardson playing right wing! However, looking at the bigger picture, It's been a great season and Mick and the boys deserve a massive amount of credit. To be in the 45th game of the season with something to play for has been great. I flicked over at HT to the Rangers game and when I saw Bilel Mohsni pottering around I realised just how far we've come in one year. Hopefully next year we'll improve again and go one step better.
9

dagenhamtown added 14:31 - Apr 26
Good season but god embarrassingly lack lusture bearing in mind we needed to win skuse shocking .looked like a pre season game really cant understand why so impotent and could nof care less attitude oh well next season in championship again.
15

NoelTheDub added 14:31 - Apr 26
Mick game over before a ball was kicked.We never went there to win this game safety first as usual with defensive players all over the park.Before I get slaughtered on here can anyone be happy with that rubbish today If so explain to me.Yes we have a small squad and no money BUT we had so many chances to give the playoffs a right go but Mick sets his team out like that IV no idea why.
25

Luka added 14:32 - Apr 26
Also, MUST use Hewitt at Right Back, and MUST use Chambers at Centre Back. Berra has been brilliant all season, granted, but that partnership between Smith and Chambers was/is great. Berra might well be off to the top flight anyway, as he apparently has had admirers.
0

AndrewPC added 14:33 - Apr 26
Outplayed in every department. Congratulations to Burnley an especially Sean Dyche.

We did not play any short balls out of defence on the carpet to midfielders. Why ? Because no midfielders came short to make themselves available.

Our wide men did not have the pace to get round the Burnley defence and send in crosses. Murphy was the only player to get a cross in on the floor behind the defence.

Burnley were always faster onto the second phase ball.

I am sure Town players played to instructions so the buck stops with the manager.
17

Notts_tractor added 14:34 - Apr 26
Feel sorry for those who travelled all that way for a ludicrous kick off time - to be "rewarded" with that total lack of effort by both management and players is scandalous. Peope will bang on about the progress from last season, but actually McCarthy had already steadied the ship after the Jewell disaster and we were a top 6 side over the second half of the season. So when you might have expected to kick on from that, we've stood still really. It's also been pretty grim to watch at times, too. Watching on TV McCarthy looked like he was going through the motions. Without any more investment from the owner I wonder how long it will be before he spins the old "taken this club as far as I can" line and slings his hook.
12

Pip50 added 14:35 - Apr 26
Work in progress !!!!! That's 17 wins in 45 games plus two lame cup exits.
Every weeks it's the same dross, we mush be a pleasure to play against being set up not to score with a couple of defensive errors throw in.
Fortunately we are going to be mid table again hopefully McCarthey will go.
-7

bluefeast added 14:35 - Apr 26
Disappointed today ,we needed to score and whilst we were neat and tidy 1st half we created nothing. Decision making in the final third was not good. Also a word about skuse today ,what was the point of hime being on the pitch ,his worst display of the season. Subs just made us a disorganised sham. Corners today were all out swingers WHY. What a shame weve take 1 point from the last 9 when it really mattered. But to score none today when we needed 2 and set up to negate burnley i wondered WHY from the start.
14

jas0999 added 14:39 - Apr 26
First, in comparison to other seasons and managers, still think Mick as done a great job with limited resources. However, there can be no excuse for today's unacceptable tactics. As many feared, having such a small average squad (but full of hard workers) would be a real problem if injuries hit. Today was clear evidence if needed that we have to have more strength in depth. Murphy looked shattered today and Monday. Yet with injuries we had few options. Sorry Evans - FFP or not it's no where near acceptable. We won't challenge for promotion unless we strengthen the squad.

Midfield is as poor as I've seen. No creativity. Too defensive. Hope we don't sign Green. Very average.

Very disappointed today, but overall looks like a better season than recent years. That's scant consolation today though.

Bring on next season. Much work still to do.
10

BrettenhamBlue added 14:39 - Apr 26
major changes will now take place at the club.
Cresswell, smith, Berra, Mcgoldrick, Hunt, Taylor, Marriott and maybe even Murphy will all say "bye bye".
We will keep players like Nouble
We just need to make sure we get decent money for them and invest for the future.
Mings is ready to take over the lb position.
Just hope we can do a repeat of this season next year. A top 10 finish (preferably a 5th/6th placed finish) would be excellent.
We need to retain Mick of course, which might now might prove difficult also. he's a top manager and deserves to manage a top team.
Maybe it's time for players like Doherty, Vesseli to step up into the first time. And hopefully Nouble can be our 25 goal hero for the season.....
And pigs might fly...
-9

Luka added 14:39 - Apr 26
Pip50 are you serious? McCarthy out? what, I'm guessing you want all-out attack, score a lot, but concede more, Darren Ferguson? Nonsense. If Town are a pleasure to play against, why is it that we were near the higher end of the table than the lower?
5

fifeblue added 14:40 - Apr 26
Take heart everyone for a much improved season overall compared to the last 5.

See you at Carrow Road next season! Town are imporving and they are getting worse. It's about time we put one over on them and next season we'll have the chance.

COYB
2

bluefeast added 14:41 - Apr 26
Im hoping for new signings in order to create goals from midfield . Our Midfield not only has the lowest scorers but the lowest number of assists in the whole division. So SORT THAT MICK.
13

AndyUK61873 added 14:42 - Apr 26
living in the states 1st game I go to watch with it being on live tv here, but the players looked tired from the start. Bereft of ideas, I know most people will say MM is at fault for tactics, I don't disagree to a certain degree, but the players know what they need to do, they did not look hungry at all. Murphy was on an island, the midfield gave little support. Not sure exactly what Williams is supposed to do, good player, but often looked lost out there and the defensive looked out of sync, would prefer Chambers in the middle of the 3 with Berra and Smith either side.
7

Pip50 added 14:44 - Apr 26
Lulu last time I looked it was about wining a football match mid table is mid table.
You like watching that?
1

bigfatjoe87 added 14:47 - Apr 26
People say how steady mick has made us dont forget we we've list the most amount of points from winning positions. Having said that yes mick has made us better but is that worth it for the football we gave to watch. An example was richardson right wing today dearary me. I like micks honest approach but his philosophy isnt going to change. Kills me to see the likes of paul green getting to wear the jersey.
7

martleshamitfc added 14:50 - Apr 26
Very strange playing Richardson and dissapointed with the lack of tactics - would much rather see us go for it in this must win game and lose 3.2 than lose 1.0 and hardly have a shot at goal. Onwards and upwards though and bows well for next season and hopefully the squad will be stronger and look more likely a premier league one, do not think we were ready for the premier league yet anyway.
3


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