Crewe Alexandra 3 - 1 Burnley

By Turftalker
December 27 2003

Burnley crashed to their third consecutive defeat to give the 1,800 travelling fans little festive cheer. Robbie Blake was on target with a penalty in the 89th minute, but it was too little too late.

Crewe 3 - 1 Burnley: 26th December 2003.

There was little Boxing Day cheer again for Burnley as we slumped to our third consecutive defeat. 30 goals conceded in 13 away games tells a sorry tale of where the problems lie, problems that leave the clarets in 19th place a mere 4 points from the drop zone.

Make no mistake the clarets were on top in the match regarding possession, shots on target, but sadly once again we were guilty of trying to walk the ball in to the net and missing top chances. While at the other end Dean Ashton and Steve Jones provided a great class on how to shoot and take advantage of the claret's famously weak defence.

In the first half Chaplow, Little, Blake and even Graham Branch had long range efforts on goal, efforts that surprisingly did not find Crewe's average goalkeeper Clayton Ince struggling. While in defence the clarets looked, initially o.k - but certainly nothing more. Yet once again the soft under belly of the clarets was shown as we conceded a goal just before half time. A melee after a corner, Tony Grant tried to keep the ball in and it ended up at the feet of a Crewe attacker - cue top finish in to the bottom corner.

Out in to the second half and very little changed. Crewe soaked up pressure, showed some good promise for such a young side, while the clarets collectively huffed and puffed. But then, yes, again the defence dished up "Defensive Howler" number 1465757 of the season. Gnohere and Branch playing ping pong with a relatively easy clearance, which saw the ball fall to Dean Ashton for a good finish.

The game was not finished though. While the torrential rain came pouring down Ternent chose to bring on McEveley and McGregor - taking off West and Chaplow. Earlier in the match Chadwick had come on for the ever injured Glen Little. Burnley did keep pressing and finally won a penalty, that was duly dispatched by star man Robbie Blake. But once again Crewe scored from a less than convincing defensive performance.

3-1 it ended and the clarets continue their traditional Christmas slump. In fact it is becoming more like a 2 year slump!

Analysis:

Today Burnley showed the common weaknesses. Poor defence and not taking attacking chances. Ternent made some strange team choices, chosing to keep the dismal Preston Defence. My only idea is, he wanted to allow them to rectify mistakes!

Overall Burnley are simply not defending from the front - the midfield try, but when Little went off we lacked any real presence on the left, while Luke Chadwick is never going to tackle back.

Graham Branch meanwhile has to take some blame. Personally I like Branch and think he is an honest profession messed around by the coaching staff. But he is not a captain. Any fan at Gresty Rd would have seen Branch, after the second goal was conceded on the ground head in hands. Although it was his mistake largely - my view is a Captain should be up clapping, shouting. Branch does not do this.

The last word should surprisingly go to Richard Dinnis on Radio Lancs. He magically said something true yesterday when he said that Burnley's only solution is to work hard and harder on the training ground and work tha back four and keeper. Sadly though this will not be helped by Stan's inability to stick to one defensive unit. Indeed not since the Thomas, Davies, Cox set up have we had any real defensive consistency.

Equally Dinnis suggested the use of young players in helping the team. We may not have a youth setup like Crewe, but it is certainly capable of producing a few players who should get a chance.

What next?

- The clarets have to quell their attacking edge a little for clean sheets. Clean sheets simply get points - pretty football and high levels of conceding do not. Luckily at home we have been a little better.

- Teamwise it will be tough with Little injured/suspended and Gnohere suspended.

Jensen

Roche Macca May McEveley

Weller Grant Chaplow Chadwick

Blake

Moore

would be my team.

Turftalker.