Turftalkers Match Analysis Burnley 1-0 Plymouth

The first win of the year for the clarets, was not one that will be long remembered. It was a pretty average game but one where new man Michael Ricketts showed some real potential.

Ricketts does not have the same pace as Akinbiyi and as such you can tell that the clarets are looking at how best to utilise their new man. Gone are the hopeful balls down the wings and in place are more direct passes for the big man to lay off or hold up.

Indeed one thing that can be said for Ricketts thus far is that he seems far more willing to get Gifton Noel-Williams involved in play. The two strikers partnership showed some promise yesterday.

Tactically I felt Steve Cotterill got the match spot on. The only possible change I would have made was to put Elliot on sooner for Garreth O'Connor or even have him start. Elliot has played well recently and O'Connor must be wondering when he will get to play in his favoured central midfield position. I personally feel the way forward this season is to get more wing play and increase the crosses in to the box for the big men - this of course involved the big men and more midfielders getting in to the box.

My personal man of the match would go to John McGreal.

Twice he took pretty serious knocks in aerial challenges, but got back up and played out of his skin against physical (but not in a particularly bad way) Plymouth Argyle attackers. A close second to McGreal would have to go to either Jensen, Branch or James O'Connor.

Plymouth Argyle meanwhile showed why they have had a steady rise up the table under the experienced guidance of Tony Pulis. They are a lot stronger in defence, play long balls up to Mickey Evans and use the ball quite well. Pulis was right to argue that they lack a finisher however. While the second half was largely one way traffic, you just never felt Argyle were going to put the ball in the back of the net.

Overall this was a solid, if unspectacular performance from the clarets. A second consecutive clean sheet has to be welcomed, as does the three points. But they will have to play far better against Ipswich, who will have a little more guile, speed and skill up front.

Finally a word for the referee. I thought he performed well yesterday, not being over fussy and rightly keeping his cards in his pocket. The game passed off without any major incident and to be fair was played in a good spirit.

Click Here