Match thread

[JimmyRobbo]

Benson did enough there. Should do it.

A hard watch. Almost as hard as Stoke the other day. Games we might not have won at the start of the season.

Well done by Ash. Worth taking that yellow while Benson just let his full back take the throw.

A good win when we weren't at our best.

[ŽižkovClaret]

2nd hard fought win in a row that could easily have let 4 points slip

[Croydon Claret]

That was a tough one.

No idea how Blackburn are third and Swansea 13th

[Buxtonclaret]

More than happy with the 3 points today.

[jedi_master]

Massive, massive, massive win that.

[Devils_Advocate]

Great win and Sheff Utd still goalless at QPR

[Ampth7]

That is two wonderful hard fought wins away from home! 9/10 more wins needed?

[RVclaret]

Fantastic result. 2nd half much better and really controlled the game.

[Taffy on the wing]

Bloody thread cut out with 5 to go.
Phew!
Horrible pair of commentators…. Almost as bad as the Ref.

[NickBFC]

Excellent win, not at our best but finding ways to win. Good sign.

[TPClaret]

Didn’t even test Muric 2nd half. They put it all into that first half

[tiger76]

Another big 3 points on the road, 6 pts in a few days at 2 difficult venues is a big statement to the rest of the league, and even when not at our best we continue to rack the wins up.

Over to Sheff Utd now when they play QPR later.

[Paul Waine]

Maastenive Win

Small edit

[ksrclaret]

Two huge wins when not at our best. Champions stuff.

Now I don’t want to read any shite tonight from the usual whoppers criticising our players (though I’m sure I will). We are FOURTEEN points clear.

[evensteadiereddie]

An excellent win, hard work but thoroughly deserved.
6 massive points from the last few days.

[ClaretMat]

Only saw the second half, both Jay and Brownhill should have made it a more comfortable win, but good game management in the second half overall. One goal is always nervy mind!

[FCBurnley]

Much improved second half. Nice break coming up now excluding the cup game which is insignificant. Few players needing a rest. 3 wins in 6 days ( 2 away)) is super impressive

[Woody9229]

Not convinced we have performed that well recently but we score at the right times and see out matches better than earlier in the season but away wins at Stoke and Swansea are indeed season defining.

[chekhov]

Excellent result. Mystery as to why Allen came off. He was running the show.
Enjoyed the Welsh commentary team, an upgrade on Phil Bird if you ask me!

[Royboyclaret]

Brilliant game management, Clarets !!

[Greeny]

Great win and Sheff Utd still goalless at QPR

It will be 0-0 for a while . Game kicks off at 8pm

[jurek]

Yet another crucial win taking us closer to whatever
number of points required to get promoted.
Don't wish to hazard a guess as to how many points required
but it might be less than 80.

And keeping the gap between us and third to 14 I think it is.
This team just doesn't know how to lose.
Two more tricky games coming up and if we can get through those
I'll be more than happy to start thinking we can make it.

Come on you Clarets!

[Swizzlestick]

Excellent result. Mystery as to why Allen came off. He was running the show.
Enjoyed the Welsh commentary team, an upgrade on Phil Bird if you ask me!

Cause he was absolutely spent. As a lot of teams are when they compete with us first half. And then we have the squad to capitalise. Brilliant stuff.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Much better 2nd half, more touches in and around their box, limited them to scraps. Fantastic 3 points, we look unstoppable. For Norwich, West Brom and Boro we would need relegation form (almost) for them to catch us. Even with that we would be on 78 points which may, in a freak season, be enough, UTC.

[Colburn_Claret]

Super happy, a great start to the New Year.

Only followed on SocSat, but all the big chances they showed, 2nd half, fell to us. We could have put it to bed, but happy we showed a bit more control that half.

UTC

[Firthy]

Fantastic result but I'm now more worried about the refs than other teams. Last 3, have been awful.

[Sproggy]

Yep, excellent 2nd half bar the chances missed. Could've easily been 1-4.

[bfcjg]

2 wages freed up if Lowton and Westy go, plus ship some more out, bring in a good powerful striker and perhaps a really physical midfielder and we will be up by Easter fingers crossed. Showed where we need to strengthen has the last 2 games.

[chekhov]

Cause he was absolutely spent. As a lot of teams are when they compete with us first half. And then we have the squad to capitalise. Brilliant stuff.

On reflection, yes, you’re right he did look rather tired. Thought we had much better control of the match in the 2nd, apart from a scare right at the end, very comfortable.

[LTUK89]

Up the carrots, top of the leek

[clarethomer]

Was a well contested game and I am still non the wiser to why the ref let so many fouls go but hey, ho.

Overall another great performance by the team.

[claretinkorea]

I've been wondering the same about the fouls, maybe my perspective has been warped by refs in the prem protecting players for the last few seasons. Definitely a more physical league the Championship and the refs let a lot more go.

[MancunianClaret]

Two scorchers for Maatsen. Two stand-out moments of quality in an otherwise murky game!

[Clarets4me]

Up the carrots, top of the leek

I don't see this result as exactly a " turnip " for the books, two more in the " onion " bag today, they got one back after our defenders allowed them too " mushroom " to shoot, but that was " shallot " in terms of goals !
Let's hope we " squash " those rumours about us signing a " Swede " in the transfer window .....

I'll get my coat ...

[Bosscat]

I don't see this result as exactly a " turnip " for the books, two more in the " onion " bag today, they got one back after our defenders allowed them too " mushroom " to shoot, but that was " shallot " in terms of goals !
Let's hope we " squash " those rumours about us signing a " Swede " in the transfer window .....

I'll get my coat ...

I've just Bean for a Pea

[Gp8419]

I was more impressed today than some of our recent easy wins even.Thought we well controlled that 2nd half almost perfect apart from the one flash across our face of goal.Great performance a lot better than stoke.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

I thought we were better when Zaroury was replaced by Gudmundson. He wasn’t playing well today. It was obvious Kompany was telling the team to just see the game out with 10 minutes to go. Thought Teller was superb today (again). I hope that’s not his last game for us