The Lads took on Burnley and their large following, and after converting 100% of their chances in the first half, conceded 75% of those in the second. Shorn of the ball-carrying abilities of Roberts, we looked OK before the break but on the back foot for most of the time after it.
One and a half buses from Bishop saw us aboard the Witton Park Community Minibus which managed to avoid both of the nasty accidents in the A1M.
Patterson
Hume O'Nien Batth Cirkin
Neil Evans (c)
Embleton Diallo Pritchard
Clarke
...and a bench of Bass, Ba, Michut, Bennette, Wright, Dajaku, and Matete
We kicked off South on a bright and sunny after and nearly drew first blood when Embo's shot was saved low at the keeper's right-hand post. Clarke and Embo seemed to be our forward option, but we're nowhere near as big as their opponents. Having said that, when Pritch worked it down the left, Clarke crossed it in and Amad seemed to wait for an eternity before passing it about into the net when in acres of space. We'd only six minutes to wait for it to get even better, when Dan Neil swept it home after great work by Pritchard on the left. 2-0? Super-efficient, given that possession had been about 50/50. The game was halted for five minutes or so, apparently due to somebody hoying stuff down from the away section.
Burnley then sorted themselves our to an extent, but some good defensive work by Hume and Luke meant that Patto was safe. Five added minutes were announced, we saw them out and spent the break celebrating our efficiency in front of goal. Two chances, two goals.
No changes for the second half for us, but Burnley took off Ashley Barnes in favour of Benson - and he almost single-handedly ruined our afternoon.
Goals on 51, 60, and 68 came without us landing a punch on the visiting goal and what was left of their Premier League experience was there for all to see. We had a couple of half chances, firing both wide, we hoyed on Bennette, Ba, and Michut for Embo, Evans, and Pritch but despite some clever play Burnley always looked likely to do more damage. With Jay Rodriguez (how old?) on to bring more experienced legs, their lead didn't really look in danger and when they nabbed another with three to go, it was no real shock.
Five added minutes only prolonged the agony, and it ended 2-4. Men against boys, really. Perhaps we could) should have put Wright on for Hume, who was tortured in the second half, but there was a lot more missing after the break than defending on his side. We barely threatened in the second half and Burnley fully deserved the three points.
My Man of the Match? Dan Neil.
