I really enjoyed that game tonight

[RalphCoatesComb]

Sadly, apart from Watford (H), Plymouth (A) and a couple of others, I haven't been able to say that too much this season.

Obviously, it helps when you score after 2 minutes, but some of the passing tonight was superb! In the first half in particular, Hull players must have wondered what had hit them! Hull defenders were left chasing shadows and many of our passing moves came straight from Gawthorpe. Players in yellow looked just like Forza Football Mannequins with Claret and Blue apparitions simply floating by them. With a little more confidence in the final third, that could have been a rout.

Thank you Scott Parker. For the first time this Season, I believe.

[Woodleyclaret]

Me too some top class moves that deserved more goals now for PNE round1

[Vegas Claret]

First half was every bit as good as what we served up most games under Kompany imho. Second half was a bit of a non event but I'm sure we would all settle for 2-0 wins !

[Lord_Bob]

Agree Vegas. There was a nice mix of "tiki-taka" and CJ, Cullen, even Esteve pinging long balls over the top causing mayhem, with Anthony doing his bit on the other end.

My God, if Esteve has half the ability as CJ at the long ball, that's the $100M player Kompany talked about. I am beginning to think he may actually be the best I've seen at CB at the Turf - although Waldron takes some beating.

[BurnleyFC]

Last night was fantastic. Some of the football was sublime at times, capped off with two tremendous goals and a standard solid defensive performance.

[sox8595]

Got to agree with the above comments, some of the football this season has been pretty uninspiring, last night was a different level.
Loved the fact that there was so much more adventurous passing.
Hopefully we can maintain this new tactic through the last period of the season

[123EasyasBFC]

First half was every bit as good as what we served up most games under Kompany imho. Second half was a bit of a non event but I'm sure we would all settle for 2-0 wins !

I think second half was as much of hull changed their press which made the game slightly more difficult to get into the good positions

[Burnley1989]

The moaning about boring football is starting to pi55 me off now, we even have opposition fans from all over the country jumping on the statement all over social media.
Ultimately they just hate the fact they can't beat us or even score against us.

There has been some boring games but that's always been the case under most managers.
I had a bloke telling me what a poor player Hannibal is and he doesn't get the hype, makes you wonder if they even engage their brains whilst watching us, he's been superb.

[Andreshotboots]

Agree Vegas. There was a nice mix of "tiki-taka" and CJ, Cullen, even Esteve pinging long balls over the top causing mayhem, with Anthony doing his bit on the other end.

My God, if Esteve has half the ability as CJ at the long ball, that's the $100M player Kompany talked about. I am beginning to think he may actually be the best I've seen at CB at the Turf - although Waldron takes some beating.

Steve will have a totally different test on Saturday against the "biting beast from the East,". Every confidence in him though, as you say, a wonderful player who makes defending look effortless.

[Jakubs Tash]

Very good first half! Played some lovely stuff.

I mentioned to my dad at half time that it reminded of how we were under VK in his championship season. There were times our centre halves were only 40 yards from their goal as we squeezed them in.

[RVclaret]

Really good stuff that was. We’ve had 3 good performances back to back now (along with the 3 wins), but last night, for me, was the best we’ve looked. Hope Hannibal can recharge the batteries in time for a Saturday lunchtime kick off, not much rest there!

[Dodobdobodobo]

Agree Vegas. There was a nice mix of "tiki-taka" and CJ, Cullen, even Esteve pinging long balls over the top causing mayhem, with Anthony doing his bit on the other end.

My God, if Esteve has half the ability as CJ at the long ball, that's the $100M player Kompany talked about. I am beginning to think he may actually be the best I've seen at CB at the Turf - although Waldron takes some beating.

Waldron

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Superb win and entirely convincing. Great to see us have such a strong bench as well. Hopefully we can maintain that level, or close to it, for the rest of the season. If we can, we will give the top 2 spots a run for their money.

Fans need to do better with the atmosphere though. Me and a few others in the CFS tried to get it going a few times, but hardly anyone was interested. I know it's another weeknight match, but if you don't even sing when you're winning, when do you sing.

[jlup1980]

Last night felt like we were watching the end result of all the work the team and backroom staff have been doing at Gawthorpe. SP is clearly a "build from the back" Manager, but we saw a different beast last night. We looked solid, but we had genuine attacking intent.

The passing was sharper, the press was higher, and the overall feel of the team was much more aligned. Anthony was a constant thorn in Hull's side, but his defensive work cannot be ignored. The same can be said for Roberts and Hannibal. They set the tone by showing both quality and commitment.

The only small gripe is it's clear a no.9 is still the missing cog. Flemming got his goal, but a natural no.9 walks off with the match-ball last night. It didn't matter, but a clinical striker could well be the difference between automatic promotion and the lottery of the play offs.

[Bacchus]

First half was every bit as good as what we served up most games under Kompany imho. Second half was a bit of a non event but I'm sure we would all settle for 2-0 wins !

I saw the same comparison to the Kompany team at times last night. Full backs getting forward more willingly, Roberts popping up all over the show, mixing it between straight down the line and opening up (and CJ exploiting) the long diagonals like THB did that year. The sign of our centre backs camped 20 yards into their half was something we saw quite a bit that year.

If we can keep that level of performance up (1st half especially) someone is going to get a walloping soon.

[daveisaclaret]

Thought we were great last night. The instinct to keep on top of them after the early goal was really positive and we played some great stuff. Parker clearly saw the opportunity to hurt them going quickly over the top in the second half, and it nearly paid off. Nothing at all wrong with going so direct when the situation calls for it.

Edwards looks very exciting too.

[Brunlea]

Me too and out of interest I dipped into the Hull City broadcast last night and their commentator said more than once that that we were the best team he had seen in the division particularly during first half UTC

[Newcastleclaret93]

I think I can honestly say that for the first time this season I think Parker has found his best starting eleven.

There’s been quite a bit of chopping and changing (some forced, some not).

But right now I think that starting eleven gives Parker his most balanced and creative team. I also think we could see that, the passing was the best it’s been all season, the tempo in the first half was electric, the full backs were linking really well with the wingers.

Top marks all round, if we do go up I am confident that team with a little bit of additional quality isn’t far away from being competitive in the prem.

[Goliath]

I think I can honestly say that for the first time this season I think Parker has found his best starting eleven.

There’s been quite a bit of chopping and changing (some forced, some not).

But right now I think that starting eleven gives Parker his most balanced and creative team. I also think we could see that, the passing was the best it’s been all season, the tempo in the first half was electric, the full backs were linking really well with the wingers.

Top marks all round, if we do go up I am confident that team with a little bit of additional quality isn’t far away from being competitive in the prem.

I'm not sure that will be the starting 11 he settles on. I wondered at the time if we were seeing a bit of a trial of how to fit Edwards into the 11 at the end. I don't think he's been brought here to sit on the bench.

[Vegas Claret]

Really good stuff that was. We’ve had 3 good performances back to back now (along with the 3 wins), but last night, for me, was the best we’ve looked. Hope Hannibal can recharge the batteries in time for a Saturday lunchtime kick off, not much rest there!

I'm beginning to think if you asked Hannibal to run from August through to May he'd be up for it He's quick off the mark too !

[claretonthecoast1882]

I'm beginning to think if you asked Hannibal to run from August through to May he'd be up for it He's quick off the mark too !

He would probably say he doesn't want June & July off

[JR1882]

There was a noticeable increase in tempo from previous weeks.

Maybe Scott feels that now the squads in a better place and the bench really strong that we can up the tempo and risk level.

[burnley007]

Not only did i really enjoy that 1st half, my son actually said "this is like watching us under VK".
I genuinely never thought that would happen. If it carries on, there is no doubt we will go up.

We had some real attacking urgency in that 1st half especially, even after we had scored, which is what has been missing for so many games.

If we can get Edwards, Benson and Ramsey integrated into the team/squad, we will have some very good attacking options.

I'm not eating it just yet, but I've started to look for humble pie recipes online...

[ChorltonCharlie]

A good performance, but was it really any different to the Oxford game? The main difference for me was last week we didn't take chances and relied on an OG, whereas last night we did. In my head both games went very similar. Dominant first half with plenty of chances followed by a second half where we took our foot off the pedal, but could still have added more. The stats for both games are remarkably similar too.

The cameo from Edwards was very encouraging. He looked to have the delivery we've been missing all season.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

We are like a team in an international tournament that builds to a crescendo, it's how you end a tournament that really matters and as long as you can see progress along the way. Unfortunately though there's too many supporters ( all over the country supporting different teams ) that want instant success and don't have the patience for the long haul

We will go up automatically this season

[Darnhill Claret]

Big difference to the Oxford game where our lack of momentum was due to careless passing.
Against Hull, our accurate passing helped to build and increase momentum. Later, second half, our passing allowed us to dictate a slower pace. However that slower pace then resulted in slightly less accurate levels of passing, and we couldn't reach the heights of the first half when we wanted to.

I felt Hull defended better on the flanks second half, and we couldn't quite manage the same quality, through the middle. But we will.

[bobinho]

So glad to read these comments this morning - for the first time in a while, the comments match what I witnessed.

It was an exceptional first half, that should really have resulted in more goals.

Some excellent performances all round last night, especially in the back five. At times Roberts looked like an excellent championship right mid, CJ spreading the ball about like he owned it, and Esteve putting in the kind of performance that would have not only a PL team begging for his services, but a top 6 side. Yes, last night he was THAT good.
Hannibal’s boundless energy kept us ticking and kept them under pressure when they managed to wrestle the ball from us, Jaidon was a thorn in their side and Cullen just did the horrible stuff that mostly goes unnoticed. No one had a poor game.

Lastly, for those who have been concerned about losing Brownhill, it looks like not only do we have a ready made replacement, we have an upgrade.

Prediction: Esteve to Liverpool/Spurs/Villa, Trafford to be the England keeper for the next ten years.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I would describe those tactics as suffocation. Pinning Hull in and calmly passing it around waiting for an opening. We certainly did that very impressively.

I still felt there were moments where we chose not to attack when a pass was clearly on or there was a gap down the line. That’s frustrating because it affects the tempo. But when Edwards came on we saw the difference extra class can make, incisive balls, whipped in corners and crosses, trickery from more than a single player (Anthony).

So what Parker needs to do is crank up the pressure more by incorporating Edwards and Shelvey, and not to stifle some of their creative instincts. Edwards made a couple of silly tricks in bad areas, stamp those out sure, but let him attack.

[Rowls]

I enjoyed the first 30 minutes.

After that, we played the game out without incident. Humdrum football is fine and dandy when we're 2-0 up.

[Stayingup]

Echo that. Very enjoyable game with at least seven stand out players. The passing CJ for example joyous. I1magine what the score might have been with a good goal scorer in the team.

[Vegas Claret]

At times Roberts looked like an excellent championship right mid

I think Roberts is massively underrated at this level, another lad that never ever stops running. Criminal how VK treated him

[burnley007]

I would describe those tactics as suffocation. Pinning Hull in and calmly passing it around waiting for an opening. We certainly did that very impressively.

I still felt there were moments where we chose not to attack when a pass was clearly on or there was a gap down the line. That’s frustrating because it affects the tempo. But when Edwards came on we saw the difference extra class can make, incisive balls, whipped in corners and crosses, trickery from more than a single player (Anthony).

So what Parker needs to do is crank up the pressure more by incorporating Edwards and Shelvey, and not to stifle some of their creative instincts. Edwards made a couple of silly tricks in bad areas, stamp those out sure, but let him attack.

I agree, but what I'm starting to see is real progress in the opponent's half each week. That gives me hope, for the first time, that we can go up.

[keith1879]

A good performance, but was it really any different to the Oxford game? The main difference for me was last week we didn't take chances and relied on an OG, whereas last night we did. In my head both games went very similar. Dominant first half with plenty of chances followed by a second half where we took our foot off the pedal, but could still have added more. The stats for both games are remarkably similar too.

The cameo from Edwards was very encouraging. He looked to have the delivery we've been missing all season.

I agree .... I really enjoyed the Oxford performance, but I suppose the difference was the inevitable tension from only being one goal ahead by the end. With the way we are playing I feel relaxed if we take a 2-0 lead (apologies in advance for the next time we concede 3!!)

[Roosterbooster]

First half was absolutely outstanding. And I'd go as far as saying the best I can remember from us in a number of years. Deserved more goals. Hull slightly played into our hands though. They allowed us to play through the lines centrally time and time again. And this left Anthony 1 on 1 so many times I lost count. When teams block the central forward pass, it often goes to the wide players much deeper, and often with a covering player for the full back. That's not to play down our performance BTW, just an observation. If we can start playing those line breaking passes more, then I think we will see a completely different style of football, without really needing to change much else

[bodge]

Agreed roosterbooster, some of the technical play in that first half was top drawer with the imperious Cullen at the heartbeat of it.

When this is aligned to the speed of closing down allowing us to regain possession it's too good for this division.

One swallow and all that but extremely encouraging, that starting eleven must be retained on this basis even when Brownhill returns.

[quoonbeatz]

No doubt a dominant performance, we controlled the game from start to finish. But it was over after 3 minutes so the rest of the game wasn’t particularly interesting. There was more jeopardy in the Oxford game, a very similar performance - both had moments of the highest quality for this level but also the usual unnecessary overplaying, drill football. It’s a strange one really, we remind me of a 5 a side team playing on a big pitch at times; I know our usual Thursday night game tonight will be exactly like that, lots of passing and moving around until an opening is worked. Great to play in but not always great to watch. Last night was great but we can still do even better.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

Thought the quality of football, especially in the first half, was the best of the season.
The thing that stood out for me was how quickly we regained possession after losing it, mainly through Hannibal and Cullen.
No negatives for me, and now think automatic is a real possibility, especially when you look at the quality of our bench, most of whom seem quite capable of stepping straight into the team.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

There's still some begrudging praise from the usual suspects I see with their ifs, buts and maybes