Sunderland 1 Burnley 1

By Longsider
December 1 2003

The Clarets played their part in a thoroughly entertaining match at the Stadium of Light. Roared on by 3,000 visiting fans they came from behind to gain a point thanks to Ian Moore.

Conditions weren't perfect with both sides having to contend with the wind and ridiculous amounts of litter on the pitch. In all honesty the game could have been played on a park and no one would have known any different.

A fascinating first half had seen both sides earn and waste great chances. Jenson twice saved brilliantly from the head of Kevin Kyle as the Clarets had to withstand a battering from Sunderland in the first 15 minutes.

Burnley began to rode out the sstorm and began to come more and more into the game with RobbieBlake hitting the post after turning a Sunderland defender inside out. The rebound fell to Chaplow who should have stroked the ball into an empty net but unfortunately the ball got stuck under his foot and Sunderland managed to clear.

David May flicked on a goalbound header, a carbon copy of the one he nearly crosed at Derby, but it was well saved by Poom.

Moments later we hit the same post again when some good work by Chadwick, on the left, allowed Ian Moore a strike on goal which came off the inside of Mart Poom's post. Chadwick had a great chance shortly afterwards when he was one-on-one with Poom but the keeper guessed right and tipped the shot to the left side of his goal for a corner. It was all Burnley at this stage but as so often happens in football the team on top gets hit on the break.

A cross from the right wasn't dealt with by David May and Kevin Kyle slotted the ball past Jenson to give the home side the lead.

The second half started like the first with Sunderland pressure. A long range drive was brilliantly tipped onto the underside of the bar by Jenson, the linesman put his flag up, and the rebound that was put in didn't count. You could sense the relief of the massive travelling army behind Poom's goal but could we make them pay?

Weller then came for the impressive Chadwick and almost immediately had an impact on the game. His cross from the right was missed by Chaplow but Ian Moore was there to bundle the ball through Mart Poom's legs to bring us back level. The goal came in the quietest spell of the game but the 3,000 Burnley fans couldn't care less. The vocal support was raised even higher than before and everyone in the ground sensed a winner. It didn't come although Ian Moore almost won it in the last few minutes when his drive narrowly went wide with Poom well beaten.

There was one heart stopping moment in injury time when substitute Marcus Stewart flicked the ball of David May's head and hit a sweet volley that was well saved by the Beast.

The final whistle was blown and we'd got our point. Every Burnley player played with heart and commitment in the game, something that they hadn't shown in recent weeks, and Stan Ternent had every right to be pleased with his side and if they continue to play like that then there is no reason why we shouldn't concentrate on results above us rather than the ones below us.

Sunderland: Poom, Williams, McCartney, Bjorklund, Arca, Quinn(Thirlwell 76), Whitley, Healy, Dowling, Proctor(Stewart 76), Kyle(Smith 84).

Subs not used: Wright, Ingham.

Burnley: Jensen, West(Roche 73), May, McGregor, Camara, Little, Chaplow, Grant, Chadwick(Weller 67), Blake, Moore.

Subs not used: Pilkington, O’Neill.

Referee: Alan Kaye (W. Yorkshire).