By Longsider
November 26 2003

Burnley beat inform Reading last night to pull away from the danger zone. The scoreline flattered the Clarets although some will argue it was the luck that had deserted us in recent weeks. Burnley collected 3 vital points at Turf Moor last night with a 3-0 victory over an inform Reading side.

Whilst the scoreline looks convincing the game itself was anything but. The Royals will have left Lancashire wondering just how they didn't get something out of the game.

The game itself started brightly enough with the Clarets taking a lead very early on through Robbie Blake. The goal was a fluke as Blake swung in a cross from the left, everyone left it, and it beat Hahnemann, who dived late, at the far post.

Although we had taken the lead it was Reading who had the play for the remainder of their half. The pitch was nice and slick which suited their passing and, apart from Forest, they were easily the best side to have played at the Turf this season.

They had obviously done their home work because all their attacks came down our right hand side. Dean West was nowhere to be seen during the half and John Salako appeared to have the freedom of Burnley. On the quarter hour mark Forester made a good run down our right and laid a great ball of for Sidwell who blazed over from just 12 yards out. A few moments later the defence was caught napping when Forester made a break just inside the Burnley half but David May made a great challenge to block the incoming shot.

Infact at this stage May appeared to be the only defender with Arthur giving the ball away on at least 4 occassions, in dangerous areas, after listening to the crowd urging him on those silly runs from the back he makes.

The goal was surely coming and everyone in the ground thought it had arrived in the 20th minute when Forester caught the defence napping, again, and played a simple ball for Salako to stroke into just 6 yards out but he incredibly missed. People will say Jenson did well but in all honesty the shot was straight at him and i don't think anyone could believe he didn't score.

It didn't take Jenson long to get back to his clumsy ways. A long ball was played to him which he collected just outside the box, instead of kicking the ball out of play, he decided to take it into the box but he made a hash of it and allowed Forster to take the ball of him. Forster had the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net but the ball got stuck under his feet allowing Jenson to take the ball of him. The last chance of the half came from a free kick which left Jenson beaten but thankfully it hit the side netting.

The talk at half time was how we were going to stem the flow of Reading attacks however little did we know what was in store for us. Within 30 seconds of the restart a cross from the right found Little unmarked and his header was wonderfully saved by the Reading keeper.

A minute later and Burnley had doubled their lead after Hahnemann made another howler as he made a hash of simple ball played into the box. The ball rebounded out of the box to Richard Chaplow who had the simple task of putting the ball into an empty net. It was a nice chip from the edge of the box although you'd have fancied most players to have scored it.

A few minutes later Jenson made a brilliant save when he tipped Sidwell's long range shot onto the post. It wasn't going to be their night and this was confirmed a few minutes later when a Blake free kick was deflected by Chadwick, into the Reading net, leaving Hahnemann with no chance. Game over.

The rest of the half saw Burnley dominate yet there wasn't really any more clear cut chances.

The result is most welcome although i think a lot of fans will be concerned by the first half performance. Often in bad runs you get a result when you least expect it, i'd say this happened tonight, and there's no doubt that if we play like we did in the first half then the Winter will still be a long one. For me a lot will depend on Luke Chadwick as he gave us the spark tonight that had been lacking in recent weeks.

Off to the Stadium of Light next with our new found confidence.

Burnley: Jensen, West, May, Gnohere, Camara, Little, Chaplow (Weller 84), Grant, Branch (Chadwick 36, Facey 87), Blake, Moore.

Subs not used: Lee Roche, Mark McGregor.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Newman, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Murray (Savage 59), Sidwell, Harper (Watson 58), Salako (Tyson 59), Hughes, Forster.

Subs not used: Jon Mackie, Jamie Young.

Referee: Mike Pike (Cumbria).