Turning the corner
Plus: Am I the jinx?
Hello! I’d love to do a lovely long newsletter about Burnley finally winning a game…but I didn’t even see it. So let’s see what I can cobble together from highlights.
Turning the corner
It was a good time to face Brighton, with Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster - their best defenders - both unavailable and with the Seagulls also in a spell of indifferent form.
But with Brighton and Burnley both drawing most of their matches, it’s fair to say that a 3-0 victory came out of nowhere, especially given there were some concerns when the team came out and there was no Ashley Westwood or James Tarkowski.
It meant with Charlie Taylor and Johann Gudmudsson both still out, Burnley were missing four of their usual starters, three of which are probably among our top players.
The hardy fans who made it to the south coast through the storms were rewarded with seeing one of Burnley’s finest ever away wins in the Premier League, though.
I was very critical of Wout Weghorst’s early performances and took some stick for it.
But, fair play, the big man keeps getting better and delivered a masterclass. His goal was taken superbly - no sign of his rust in the penalty area from the Liverpool game - and he set up Josh Brownhill before also having a hand in Aaron Lennon’s clincher.
It was always going to take time for Weghorst to settle in but the signs are now very positive. The team is learning more about the service he wants and seeing two of our key signings - Roberts and Weghorst - link up for a fine goal is tremendous to see.
On paper, Weghorst and Maxwel Cornet is a strikeforce that should not be playing for one of the league’s bottom sides. The question is whether the rest of the team can back up the quality we now have in the final third - and Saturday showed they can.
(Side note, Weghorst being brilliant at Brighton and improving by the game doesn’t mean he wasn’t actually pretty terrible against Watford, by the way. I was still right!)
Burnley did benefit from a bit of luck. Brownhill showed great feet for his goal but the finish was scruffy. If we concede that goal, we are not only furious with the defending (and the goalkeeping) but we probably also want a foul against Cornet in the build-up.
A rather large slice of fortune was probably just what Brownhill needed to get off the mark in the Premier League given his shooting has looked increasingly hopeful of late. There was nothing hopeful, however, about the superb strike from Lennon that sealed the points adding to his “pre-assist” (vom) when freeing Roberts for the opener.
Praise for Lennon can be a bit OTT - Burnley fans do love a runner - but he delivered plenty of end product, not just the usual hard work. Combinations and partnerships are so crucial and there are indications Lennon has an understanding with Roberts, to go along with the flourishing of the link-up play between the two vital lads up front.
Lennon on the right and Dwight McNeil on the left does make us look more balanced. A game on the bench might be what McNeil needed to get out of his funk but being back in his usual position with Cornet playing off Weghorst is much better too.
I did have to laugh at the Match of the Day highlights, which had us scoring from every attack we had, while Brighton wasted a string of half-decent opportunities.
In hindsight, January’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal that stopped the rot might be the most important turning point. But Brighton has to be the launchpad for our great escape.
Am I the jinx?
I was out for a friend’s birthday on Saturday. It was a very strange experience filling my face with Brazilian steak while news filtered through of raining goals at Brighton.
At one point I became convinced I had entered a meat coma and would later wake up to find it actually finished 1-1, which was surely the result everyone had anticipated.
Obviously most of us haven’t seen Burnley win very often lately but it did still get me wondering if I could be the jinx. I don’t get to a huge number of away games (it would be more if buying tickets wasn’t LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE) but the only away win I remember from the last few years is Southampton in the pouring rain when Matej Vydra scored that stunner. I was at Old Trafford for that win when Jay scored his screamer too, but on a client freebie in the home end, so it doesn’t reeeaaally count.
I’ve been to the last three away games at Newcastle and we haven’t scored a goal in any of them, even if we did win the EFL Cup tie on penalties earlier on this season.
Unfortunately I have bad news… I have a ticket for the Spurs game. Sorry about that.
Quiz question
Listen to the Spurs preview show for the answer to this week’s Brighton teaser:
Which Burnley players scored our first and last goals at Withdean Stadium?
Birthdays and anniversaries
Today is the 66th birthday of ex-Claret Ray Hankin, who joined in 1973 and hit 47 goals in 139 appearances over three seasons. Other birthdays this week include Paul Cook (55 on Tuesday), and wing wizard David Eyres, who will be 58 on Saturday.
No wins from our last four games #OnThisDay so let’s go back to 2004 for a 4-2 defeat of Ipswich Town at Turf Moor. Mike Dean was the referee! Glory days all round.
Fantasy football
I am in a mood with FPL after my account got hacked and I was left with a team featuring stars such as Wayne Hennessey, Jordan Ayew and Kamil Conteh - whoever he is - but the leader of the NNN league is currently Joe Elliott’s Dunk Tank Pink.
Letters
Mark wrote in with some thoughts on Saturday’s hopefully season-defining win:
I knew we had it in us - we had an excellent game and win against Brighton, the whole team shone. Even Brownhill had a decent game and scored a goal I still don't rate him and as always he got booked again. Wout had a great game took a fantastic goal and an assist for Brownhill. He's a far better player than Wood, he makes things happen as he did for Jay Rodriguez the other day. And Lennon rolled back the years with a great display and a well crafted goal. We just need to keep it up for the rest of the season which I think we can UTC!!!
That is the question - can they back up that performance? We didn’t after Brentford…
Thought of the day
If you’re free on April 30, why not go to the dinner for the 30th anniversary of the Fourth Division champions 1991/92. It’s in aid of our former captain John Pender.
