Blake Keeps Clarets Bubbling

By The Longside.co.uk
November 24 2004

Press report covering our victory at Brighton on Saturday. We have reports from the Sunday People and the Sporting Life today.......

BLAKE KEEPS CLARETS BUBBLING

Sunday People

Brighton 0 Burnley 1

ROBBIE BLAKE bagged his 10th goal of the season as Burnley's fine away form continued with a deserved victory at wintery Withdean. Blake settled the issue with a cool finish from eight yards 20 minutes from time after Brighton keeper Michel Kuipers failed to claim the ball under pressure from Mo Camara. The Clarets, beaten only twice in their last 10 away league games, should have made their victory more emphatic, but Camara blazed wide from 12 yards after being set up by Blake. Brighton gave a home debut to 38-year-old striker Steve Claridge but his inclusion could not spark the Seagulls, who sank to their fourth defeat in the last seven home games. Brighton played Leon Knight on the right of midfield with Claridge their only striker, and Knight curled a cross wide of keeper Brian Jensen's right- hand post after being fed by Charlie Oatway. Brighton threatened again when Dan Harding released Oatway and his goalbound shot was saved by Jensen. Burnley, after being forced to defend in the opening exchanges, created an opening through Graham Branch, whose header from Tony Grant's corner struck bar. The Clarets were unfortunate again when defender Camara struck the base of the post from Blake's flick-on. Then the home team's defence was stretched as Blake got in behind them - and his fine cross from the left eluded both the advancing Ian Moore and Branch. Brighton rarely produced a cutting edge after the break and Blake's strike was nothing more than Burnley deserved. BRIGHTON: Kuipers 5 - Reid 6, Butters 7, Hinshelwood 7, Harding 6 (Mayo 78mins) - Knight 6 (Jones 82mins), Carpenter 6, *OATWAY 7, Nicolas 6 (Hart 74mins), Currie 6 - Claridge 7. BURNLEY: Jensen 7 - Duff 7, Cahill 6, Sinclair 7, Camara 7 - Roche 6, Branch 8, Grant 7, O'Connor 7, *MOORE 8 - Blake 8. Subs: O'Neill, Pilkington, Scott, Duffy, Sanokho. Ref: K Wright

 

Brighton 0 Burnley 1

Sporting Life

Burnley registered their third away win of the season as Robbie Blake's solitary goal saw off Brighton at Withdean Stadium.

Blake, who had been sprightly all afternoon, popped up in the middle of the second half to execute a perfect finish to Tony Grant's corner to hand Steve Cotterill's side all three points.

And it was a richly deserved win for the Clarets, who weathered an early Albion storm before going on to dominate much of the remainder of the encounter.

Veteran striker Steve Claridge, on a month's loan at Albion after leaving his managerial post at Weymouth, had the first opportunity for the Seagulls, but he powered a long-range header over the bar from a curling Darren Currie free-kick.

Burnley keeper Brian Jensen had to be on his toes again when Claridge's partner up front, the diminutive Leon Knight, forced him into his first save of the match with a weak header.

The visitors were offering very little in their attacking third with Albion dominating possession and the Clarets seemed content on soaking up the early pressure from the home side.

Knight drilled another effort wide before Burnley finally made some inroads at the opposite end with leading striker Blake's 20-yard strike forcing home keeper Michael Kuipers into a save.

And just minutes later, Mo Camara came inches away from opening the scoring for the Clarets when his bullet header from a Grant cross slammed against the woodwork.

The visitors were coming more into the game and Blake warmed Kuipers' hands with a curling 25-yard effort as the disappointing first half came to a close.

Kuipers was called into action in the opening minutes of the second half when he saved Lee Roche's 20-yard volley.

At the other end, Charlie Oatway should have done much better with a six-yard header that was swallowed up by Brian Jenson in the Burnley goal following an outswinging Currie corner.

Camara then popped up in the Albion area again but his tame header screwed meekly wide of Kuipers' goal.

The Clarets were beginning to turn the screw and after a surging run by midfielder James O'Connor, his side-footed effort was only kept out by a great block by Adam Hinshelwood.

But minutes later, the away side did manage to force home the winner.

Grant swung in yet another excellent corner and top scorer Blake smashed in his seventh league goal of the season in fine style past a despairing Kuipers.

Seagulls boss Mark McGhee tried to shake things up a bit, bringing on a trio of substitutes in a last-gasp effort to claw back an equaliser, but Burnley were still causing them problems as Camara went close for a third time.

And despite being on the back foot for the final few frantic minutes, Burnley held on to record a vital away win.

Teams

Brighton Kuipers, Butters, Reid, Hinshelwood, Harding (Mayo 77), Nicolas (Hart 74), Knight (Jones 82), Oatway, Currie, Carpenter, Claridge.

Subs Not Used: Hammond, Roberts.

Burnley Jensen, Camara, Sinclair, Duff, Cahill, Roche, Branch, Moore, Grant, O'Connor, Blake.

Subs Not Used: O'Neill, Pilkington, Scott, Duffy, Sanokho.

Booked: Sinclair.

Goals: Blake 70.

Att: 6,109

Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).