A superb Turf Moor day for ton up Clarets
On a day of celebration at Turf Moor yesterday, Burnley beat Cardiff City 3-0 with our goals scored by Josh Brownhill, Ashley Barnes and Scott Twine.
Anything but a win would just not have been right but on a day when we were again so much better than the opposition, this result was never in doubt as we picked up another three points to take our final total to 101 for the season.
Taking no chances, we kept to our routine yesterday when, before the game, we were forced to use a different turnstile. It’s childish without doubt but we’ve done it for years. We start at one of three entrances and move between them following each home defeat. We moved for the first time all season with that QPR loss still gnawing at me and I’m sure many other Clarets.
We’d gone in a little earlier than usual although I wasn’t sure why at the time. I’m 71 and I’m not convinced my Radio 1 days needed to be revived even when led by fellow Claret Jordan North who was in his and our Happy Place.
It’s a many a year since my clubbing days at the Cats and the Angels in Burnley but yesterday’s slot, which included blastings of Freed from Desire and Just Can’t Get Enough certainly met with my approval. Back in August at Wigan, we were treated to this sort of pre-match offering that had the away end rocking and I said that should we win comfortably then Just Can’t Get Enough would be a title for my match report. We won 5-1; it was the title.
Vincent Kompany had made three changes from the team that had won 2-1 at Bristol City. Arijanet Muric returned in goal for Bailey Peacock-Farrell and there were recalls for both Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson and Anass Zaroury, neither of whom had been in the match day squad at Ashton Gate.
The Cardiff players emerged first, followed by the match officials. As was the case in that game in Bristol, we were to receive a guard of honour following our title win which was clinched, should I need to remind you at Ewood Park.
Ashley Barnes, captain for the day, led us out. We’d got this one right too. We all knew this was his last game for us; we all thought it was appropriate that he led the side out and we all hoped he might just leave us with a goal. If so, it would be his first on the Turf since that demolition of Blackburn who came to Burnley and hardly touched the ball.
Barnes looked as though he wanted to sign off with a goal. He was close to turning in a low cross from the left, missed the target with a shot and then saw Ryan Allsop get down to save a third effort. Probably the closest we came during this opening period was a real scare for Cardiff when Andy Rinomhota all but tuned a Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson cross into his own goal. We’d started well although Connor Wickham, who looked twice the size he was last time he played at Burnley, did force Muric into a save although the flag had gone up for offside.
The first of them was the sort of goal we’ve seen so often this season as we switched the ball from one side to the other. This time it was from right to left via Taylor Harwood-Bellis who found Twine out wide. He pushed the ball forward for Zaroury who got the better of Rinomhota before playing a low ball for Brownhill to score from close range.
Everything seemed to stop Cardiff weren’t happy. Were they suggesting a foul or that the ball had gone out of play? I’m not sure but there was no foul and in fact their defender Rinhomota had kept the ball in play with his hand. Twine was frantically appealing for the penalty until the ball went in. All eyes were on referee Matt Donohue and credit to Zaroury and Brownhill who were alert to the situation.
Then came the moment everyone had hoped for. Guðmundsson, who was such an influence in the first half, pushed the ball forward for Brownhill to cross. Mahlon Romeo chested the ball across to Barnes who hammered it home. Barnes had scored on his final appearance; it was so fitting that he was going to go out with a goal.
It all looked over, result wise, at half time and we really should have extended that lead early in the second half when Twine twice had opportunities. He’ll rue the miss when he went one-on-one with goalkeeper Allsop having been played in by Barnes but he was soon to get his name on the scoresheet.
There weren’t to be any more goals. Muric was forced into one good save but it was always likely that any addition to the score would extend our lead. We made a couple of substitutions with around twenty minutes to play and a further two nine minutes from time but it was the change between them that saw the crowd rise to its feet.
Allowed a final farewell, Barnes gave way to Jay Rodriguez on 75 minutes. The reception he received from the crowd, every bit of the applause, all of the cheers, fully deserved after nine and a half years as a Claret, leaving us with so many special memories from first to last.
He was announced as the man of the match a few minutes later despite them getting his number wrong as the celebrations started in the stands. Just before the end, those players not involved on the day – namely Denis Franchi, Hjalmar Ekdal, Jordan Beyer, Samuel Bastien, Darko Churlinov, Manuel Benson and Michael Obafemi – emerged from the tunnel.
Two minutes were added. For once, no one was too bothered and when the final whistle blew the only downside was the number of fans who ran onto the pitch despite repeated requests not to. It took a while for the pitch to be cleared and then we had to wait an age for the Ikea style flat pack podium to be put together on the pitch.
The home fans roared as each player came out until our club captain Jack Cork arrived to receive the trophy. It’s all done with the razzamatazz and ticker tape now and after the obligatory photographs, it was time for the lap of honour which started at the cricket field end and moved round via the Bob Lord.
I think the last time I was inside Turf Moor for so long after a game was 36 years ago today on 9th May 1987. Then, it was sheer relief. This time it was elation, delight, joy and wonderment. I seem to get more emotional as I get older but I was not in any rush to leave.
It had been one of the most fantastic days to end what’s been a remarkable season that I’ll make some attempt to review in the next few days.
Thank goodness we ended it with a win. It would have been so wrong not to. The manager proclaimed that we’ve been the best; we’ve been the best by a country mile.
For those of you able to attend today in town, enjoy it, savour it and remember it. Sadly, I can’t make it but I’d have loved to have been able to.
Burnley 3 Cardiff 0 – that’s what it was all supposed to be about but yesterday it was much, much more as that wonderful trophy came back.
The teams were;
Burnley: Arijanet Muric, Connor Roberts, Ameen Al-Dakhil (Charlie Taylor 81), Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ian Maatsen, Josh Brownhill, Josh Cullen (Jack Cork 70), Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (Nathan Tella 70), Scott Twine, Anass Zaroury (Vitinho 81), Ashley Barnes (Jay Rodriguez 75). Subs not used: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Lyle Foster.
Yellow Card: Connor Roberts.
Cardiff: Ryan Allsop, Mahlon Romeo (Mark Harris 65), Mark McGuinness, Jack Simpson, Perry Ng, Andy Rinomhota, Ryan Wintle, Sheyi Ojo (Joe Ralls ht), Rubin Colwill (Isaak Davies ht), Jaden Philogene (Eli King 87), Connor Wickham (Sory Kaba 65). Subs not used: Rohan Luthra, Joel Bagan.
Yellow Cards: Mahlon Romeo, Perry Ng.
Referee: Matt Donohue (Manchester).
Attendance: 21,594.
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