The View from 1882

Who needs Andy Gray?-By EET

Burnley beat Coventry 2-1 with goals from Ade Akinbiyi and Robbie Blake in a game that could have gone either way. The Burnley fans were in full voice on the concourse before the game and in the stands during it. A lot of fans were venting their feelings about Andy Gray in song.

Referee Eddie Ilderton displayed the yellow card 8 times. One of which was a second yellow which saw Coventry's Kevin Kyle sent off. The other 6 yellows went to Alexander, Blake, Harley and Varga for us and Ward and De Zeeuw for them. I personally think the yellow card should have stayed in his pocket a bit more.

The game started with Jensen in superb form saving a volley from Mifsud which was then deflected over from the follow up.

Then on 10 minutes the scoring was opened by Ade Akinbiyi. A superb pass from Blake in midfield found Elliott who stormed down the pitch then whipped in a fine cross (as he did in the previous game);the ball was put in the net by Akinbiyi to give us the lead.

Jensen saved a Mifsud header as Coventry looked to respond.

A Robbie Blake shot was then saved by Konstantopoulos in the Coventry goal.

Unfortunately Coventry equalised in the 25th minute after a scramble in the box. It was deserved, but could easily have been avoided. It stemmed from a misplaced pass from Unsworth which lead to 2 players having shots finely saved by Jensen before Doyle finally got it in the net at the 3rd attempt.

Elliott nearly put us back in front on the half hour with a good effort after beating several Coventry players whilst making his way from the centre circle to a shooting position.

Jensen then saved a Mifsud effort from 25 yards.

Towards the end of the first half McCann was felled in the box. No penalty was given. He was never going to reach the ball, but it was still a clear penalty.

Leading up to half time Burnley got a debatable corner. Blake put the corner into the box and Unsworth's effort was saved.

Kevin Kyle was shown the yellow card for an elbow which by all accounts could have been a red however on first viewing I couldn't tell and have not yet seen the replays.

That was about it until half time. A good first half in which Coventry probably had the edge, but were lucky not to go in behind after a clear penalty not being awarded to us.

10 minutes into the second half Kevin Kyle flattened Graham Alexander after a lunging tackle which missed the ball entirely. It was far worse than the challenge which Kyle Lafferty was absurdly sent off for against Arsenal, but this merited only a yellow. However, with this being Kyle's second it meant an early bath for him all the same.

James O'Connor then made way for the return of Alan Mahon.

There were a few nervy moments where it looked as if the 10 men might take the lead.

Jensen saved a low shot from Mifsud before an Akinbiyi effort from a McCann cross just failed to loop over the keeper's head into the net.

An Alexander mistake in the 65th minute nearly resulted in Coventry taking the lead. Julian Gray put Mifsud through on goal, but a superb tackle from Unsworth took the opportunity to score away from Mifsud.

Almost immediately after Coventry should have been down to 9 men as Wade Elliott was thrown to the ground on the very edge of the area after looking certain to score. The referee waved play on.

Burnley then retook the lead.

Gudjonsson won the ball from a defender passed to Akinbiyi who then appeared to be passing to Blake, but instead passed the other way to Gudjonsson who then in turn slipped the ball through to Blake who was running through on goal. Blake slotted the ball low into the bottom of the goal to put us 2-1 ahead.

John Spicer and Steve Jones replaced Joey Gudjonsson and Ade Akinbiyi.

Steve Jones had a late chance to get a third, but his effort was just wide.

At the beginning of injury time for a few seconds Coventry looked to be through but the ball was pounced on by Jensen.

That was it, a 7th away league win this season for Burnley and the 4th already for Owen Coyle in the short spell he has been at the club.

Man of the Match:

Wade Elliott

Another good performance from Wade Elliott following on from his similar performance against Plymouth. Once again creating a goal from yet another fine cross.

Written by EET

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