Burnley 2 Rotherham 1
By Longsider
April 17 2005
Press reports of our victory over Rotherham at Turf Moor. We have got reports from the Sunday People and the Sporting Life for you to read this week.
|
Millers Sinc-ing Ice Feeling Sunday People VETERAN defender Frank Sinclair's first goal for Burnley resurrected the Clarets' slim play-off hopes and sent rock-bottom Rotherham ever closer to the dreaded drop. A dismal run of five matches without a win, while they were distracted by the FA Cup, has cost Burnley dear. But this laboured victory over a side who have only won three times all season gives them something to play for except pride - at least for a few more weeks. Rotherham might be drinking in the last chance saloon but a makeshift-looking side stung Burnley after only four minutes. A short corner routine found unmarked captain Phil Gilchrist, who headed powerfully past Brian Jensen for his first Rotherham goal. But that shock proved to be just the tonic Burnley needed after such a sloppy start and seven minutes later they drew level after a breathtaking move. Livewire John Oster started it from inside his own half, then a backheel from Jean Louis Valois sent Mo Camara down the wing.His half-cleared cross flew to Oster, who slipped a tackle from Paul Hurst before teeing the ball up for Tony Grant to fire in a thumping low drive from the edge of the area. Three minutes later and Burnley were flying as Sinclair opened his goal account for them with a powerful header that crashed in off the woodwork from Oster's outswinging corner. Burnley fans were licking their lips at the prospect of a goal feast. But they were to be let down as Rotherham displayed the kind of passion that has deserted them so often during this campaign. And, by the end, Burnley were left counting their lucky stars as the Millers squandered three chances and saw Paul Hurst's curling free-kick strike the post with keeper Jensen beaten. Teenager Will Hoskins was denied by Jensen after running clear. Paul Warne saw the keeper make another good save at his post from his goalbound shot and Paolo Vernazza was unlucky in the second half with a 20-yard shot which flew wide. BURNLEY: Jensen 7 - Sinclair 6, Cahill 7, McGreal 6 - *OSTER 8, Hyde 7, Grant 6, Whittingham 6 (Branch, 69mins, 5) - Bowditch 6 (Duff, 83mins), Valois 6 (Moore, 78mins). ROTHERHAM: Pollitt 6 - Scott 6, Barker 5, Gilchrist 6, Hurst 6 - *CAMPBELL-RYCE 8, McLaren 7, Vernazza 6, Griffit 5 (Keane, 45mins, 5) - Warne 6, Hoskins 7 (*MULLIN, 68mins, 5). Ref: P Robinson 6. | ||
Sporting Life
Burnley recovered from an early scare to claim a 2-1 victory at home to Coca-Cola Championship basement club Rotherham.
Phil Gilchrist's first goal of the season gave the visitors the lead - but within 10 minutes Burnley were ahead through Tony Grant and Frank Sinclair.
On-loan Ipswich forward Dean Bowditch made his debut as a lone striker for Burnley.
Rotherham also handed a debut to one of their recent loan signings - Southampton's Leandre Griffit, on the left wing. But Michael Keane, on loan from Hull, had to be content with a place on the bench.
The lively Griffit made an immediate impact, crossing for Gilchrist to head down and past Brian Jensen for the fourth-minute opener.
Burnley went looking for an immediate response, but Micah Hyde fired over the bar.
The equaliser was not long in coming, though.
In the 11th minute, John Oster's through ball found Grant inside the box - and the former Everton man beat Mike Pollitt to restore parity.
Oster was also the provider for the second, barely two minutes later.
The winger drifted a corner in from the right, and Sinclair powered home a close-range header to emulate Gilchrist by scoring his first of the season.
Rotherham pushed hard to come back into the game, Paul Warne shooting wide before Will Hoskins pressed Jensen into action.
Paul Hurst then shot over, and Warne went close again shortly before half-time when Jensen made a smart save to deny him from close range.
But Burnley held firm to preserve their advantage.
Rotherham made a change during the interval, Keane making his debut as a replacement for Griffit.
Visitors midfielder Paolo Vernazza started the second half well. The former Arsenal man saw his early effort saved by Jensen and then drove another effort wide shortly afterwards.
John Mullin replaced youngster Hoskins after 68 minutes as Rotherham stepped up their search for an equaliser. Burnley responded by replacing on-loan Aston Villa winger Peter Whittingham with Graham Branch.
John McGreal fired a right-footed drive wide in the 71st minute.
Burnley then introduced a second forward, Ian Moore on for Jean-Louis Valois with 12 minutes remaining. But the attacking move did not last, full-back Lee Roche replacing Bowditch five minutes later.
Oster almost created a clinching goal for Moore, his last-minute free-kick headed wide by the substitute following Hurst's foul on Roche.
Gilchrist's effort in the third minute of injury time was then saved by Jensen to deny the unlucky Millers a point.
Teams:
Burnley Jensen, Sinclair, McGreal, Cahill, Camara, Grant, Hyde, Oster, Whittingham (Branch 70), Valois (Moore 79), Bowditch (Roche 84).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Duff.
Goals: Grant 11, Sinclair 14.
Rotherham Pollitt, Scott, Gilchrist, Barker, Hurst, Griffit (Keane 45), McLaren, Vernazza, Campbell-Ryce, Warne, Hoskins (Mullin 69).
Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Newsham, Minto.
Goals: Gilchrist 4.
Att: 10,539
Ref: P Robinson (E Yorkshire).
SKY SPORTS
Rotherham were left ruing a late save by Brian Jensen as Burnley came from behind to pick up a 2-1 win at Turf Moor.
The Millers took an early shock lead through Phil Gilchrist against a Clarets side that are unaccustomed to both conceding and scoring goals, but Steve Cotterill's man regrouped to level through Tony Grant, and add a second courtesy of skipper Frank Sinclair soon after.
Leandre Griffit, on loan at The Millers from Southampton had an immediate impact on his debut, providing a fine cross for Gilchrist to head home for his first goal of the season.
Micah Hyde fired just over soon after as The Clarets sought a quick-fire equaliser, but it was fellow midfielder Grant that levelled.
John Oster was the provider, picking out the midfielder in the box and allowing Grant to clip home past Mike Pollitt.
Oster was also provider for Burnley's second soon afterwards, his corner powerfully headed home by Sinclair.
Paolo Vernazza saw Brian Jensen equal to an early effort in the second half and fired another shot narrowly wide.
Oster was unlucky not to add a goal to his fine display when his free kick was headed off the line in the last minute, but The Clarets were then thankful to Jensen for denying Gilchrist a brace deep in stoppage time.