Burnley 1 Coventry 1 - 17/02/2009
Burnley 1 Coventry 1 - 17/02/2009
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Michael Duff, Stephen Jordan (Kevin McDonald 71), Rhys Williams, Steve Caldwell, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Steven Thompson (Jay Rodriguez 71), Martin Paterson, Robert Blake (Chris Eagles 71)
Subs not used: Johannes Gudjonsson, Diego Penny
Goals: Chris Eagles 90
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Ben Turner, Stephen Wright, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, David Bell (Freddy Eastwood 81), Jordan Henderson, Clinton Morrison, Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 73)
Subs not used: Lee Sawyer, Marcus Hall, Andy Marshall
Booked: Scott Dann 36
Goals: Leon Best 44
Attendance: 14595
Referee: D Foster
Teamtalk
Chris Eagles salvaged a point for promotion-chasing Burnley with a classy 90th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Coventry at Turf Moor.
Masked striker Leon Best headed home in the 44th minute to put the Sky Blues ahead before Eagles levelled matters with an effort in keeping with his Manchester United education.
Eagles - who entered the fray as part of a triple substitution by Clarets boss Owen Coyle in the 71st minute - raced on to a pass from fellow substitute Jay Rodriquez and superbly lofted the ball over visiting goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
For Coventry, going nowhere in the Championship but dangerous on their day as Burnley's neighbours Blackburn almost discovered to their cost in the FA Cup last weekend, it was nearly the perfect smash and grab raid.
Burnley were largely dominant but the Sky Blues' central defensive partnership of Scott Dann and Ben Turner held firm until Eagles struck.
The Clarets have won many admirers this season for their attractive, high-tempo brand of football which accounted for Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Carling Cup and took them to within two minutes of beating Tottenham in the semi-final.
They also have an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Arsenal to look forward to but promotion must surely be the priority for the famous old Lancashire outfit.
Wade Elliott and Robbie Blake quickly emerged as the Clarets' most potent weapons on either flank.
In the third minute Elliott's delightful crossfield pass found Blake lurking on the left flank and his vicious whipped cross required Stephen Wright to make a vital headed clearance at the near post.
Turner then did likewise after Martin Paterson crossed dangerously but it was all too easy for the visitors, who grew in confidence as the half wore on.
With Clinton Morrison and Best leading their attack the visitors posed a threat up front.
And they were rewarded when Best headed them in front shortly before the break after Stephen Jordan allowed Jordan Henderson to hook the ball in from the right flank.
In fairness to Burnley, they responded in the right way in the second half and Paterson kept Westwood warm with well-struck right-foot shots shortly after the restart.
In the 54th minute Paterson greeted Elliott's cross with a firm header which flew over the crossbar and then Steve Thompson blazed over after a neat pass from Blake played him in.
Burnley skipper Steven Caldwell then saw a header kicked off the line by Michael Doyle but Coyle made a triple substitution in the 71st minute - replacing Jordan, Thompson and Blake with Rodriquez, Eagles and Kevin McDonald.
The Scot was rewarded in the last minute of normal time when Rodriguez found Eagles on the left side of the penalty area and his delightful left-footed shot flew over Westwood and into the far corner.
CCFC
Coventry City were undone by a late equaliser for the second time in four days at Turf Moor after Chris Eagles cancelled out Leon Best's first-half opener with a minute to go.
There were signs that an equaliser was on the cards in the second half as the Sky Blues continually repelled wave after wave of Burnley attack.
And while the Sky Blues edged the first half yet deservedly led at half-time, no-one could deny the Clarets their deserved equaliser.
The sides matched each other like for like for the majority of the first half but it took a great crossfield ball and a bit of trickery from Jordan Henderson to allow Best to break the deadlock.
The hosts enjoyed the best of the play in the opening five minutes, right winger Wade Elliott and left-back Stephen Jordan both making progress down the flanks and supplying a number of crosses.
For all of the Clarets' early possession though, the Sky Blues never looked under a great deal of trouble and Chris Coleman's new look back four appeared to be arshalling a front pairing of Steven Thompson and Michael Paterson quite well.
It was infact Aron Gunnarsson who provided the first truly threatening move after six minutes with one of his trademark long throws which was delivered into the heart of the Burnley penalty area but was collected by Clarets 'keeper Brian Jensen.
Danny Fox also had a go with a set piece from 30 yards although Jensen had no great trouble scrambling across goal to collect the effort.
It took the hosts 17 minutes to rustle up their first effort on target, Thompson's effort from the edge of the area forcing Westwood in a low save to his right.
But Henderson had an ambitious effort five minutes later, firing a 35-yard half volley which lacked the legs to beat Jensen.
Thompson headed over the bar for Burnley just before the half hour, Elliott supplying the cross after an initial wayward corner found him near the opposite corner flag.
And almost straight on the counter attack, City's Michael Doyle forced some work out of Jensen with a 30-yard effort which was pushed wide by the Clarets shot stopper.
Burnely defender Graham Alexander almost had a half chance to open the scoring with eight minutes of the first half to go, Elliott's low cross finding him unmarked by the penalty area although he was forced away from goal by three City defenders.
But it was City who opened the scoring five minutes later after a superb move.
Doyle spread the ball right, City benefiting from some good fortune as the pass squirmed through Stephen Jordan's legs to find Henderson.
The on-loan City winger then worsened Jordan's plight by skipping past him and getting to the byline before floating a cross to Best at the back post, the masked Sky Blues striker heading downwards and inside Brian Jensen's post.
Burnley set their stall out to attack at the beginning of the second half, the Sky Blues pinned back in their own half for the first 20 minutes bar the occasional clearance or half-skirmish upfield.
For the most part though their defending was as impeccable as it was desperate at times.
Keiren Westwood, Michael Doyle and Stephen Wright combined to make two goal line clearances from Martin Paterson's header just after the hour.
Paterson put through Steven Thompson through for his own chance to level five minutes before, Thompson lifting the ball over both Keiren Westwood and his crossbar.
Elliott continued to cause problems down the right for Burnley in the second half, three minutes after the hour firing in a low cross Westwood had to pounce on ahead of Paterson.
But the hosts were rejuvenated by a triple substitution with 20 minutes to go, most notably by goalscorer Eagles who remained a constant threat down the left flank during his short stint on the pitch.
Paterson also had a great opportunity to level with seven minutes togo for the home side, a ball glancing off Scott Dann's head into his path only for the Northern Irishman to head straight into Westwood's chest.
But Eagles proved the hero for the Clarets a minute from time, latching onto a through ball and chipping over the oncoming Westwood to snatch a last-gasp point for Burnley and succeed where so many of their starting attacking players failed.
While disappointing for the travelling Sky Blue Army, not many could argue the shared spoils were anything but fair but the style in which Chris Coleman's side took the game by the scruff of the neck bodes very for them for the rest of the season.
4thegame
A goal in the last minute from substitute Chris Eagles rescued a point for Owen Coyle's promotion-chasing team, against a resolute Coventry City side.
Burnley started brightly with wide-men Robbie Blake and Wade Elliott providing an early challenge for the visitors' defence.
However, it was the Sky Blues who had the first shot on target through a Daniel Fox free-kick.
Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood made his first save after 17 minutes, diving to his right to deny a Steven Thompson strike from 20 yards.
Jordan Henderson tested Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen with an ambitious attempt from fully 30 yards.
On the half-hour mark, Jensen had to produce a fine save to keep out a left-foot shot from Michael Doyle.
Coventry took the lead two minutes before the interval when a Stephen Jordan mistake allowed Henderson to get to the by-line and his far post cross was headed home by Leon Best.
Westwood was called into action to save twice from Martin Paterson early in the second half before producing an even better save to deny Graham Alexander after a well-worked corner routine.
After Paterson had headed over the crossbar, the Clarets missed a golden opportunity when Thompson blazed a shot over with only Westwood to beat.
It looked as though it wasn't going to be Burnley's night when, on the hour mark, both Thompson and Michael Duff had attempts blocked on the goal-line.
With 20 minutes remaining boss Coyle made a triple substitution and, with time running out, two of those substitutes combined as Jay Rodriguez headed the ball into the path of Eagles for the equaliser.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Michael Duff, Stephen Jordan (Kevin McDonald 71), Rhys Williams, Steve Caldwell, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Steven Thompson (Jay Rodriguez 71), Martin Paterson, Robert Blake (Chris Eagles 71)
Subs not used: Johannes Gudjonsson, Diego Penny
Goals: Chris Eagles 90
Coventry City: Keiren Westwood, Ben Turner, Stephen Wright, Scott Dann, Daniel Fox, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, David Bell (Freddy Eastwood 81), Jordan Henderson, Clinton Morrison, Leon Best (Robbie Simpson 73)
Subs not used: Lee Sawyer, Marcus Hall, Andy Marshall
Booked: Scott Dann 36
Goals: Leon Best 44
Attendance: 14595
Referee: D Foster
Teamtalk
Chris Eagles salvaged a point for promotion-chasing Burnley with a classy 90th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Coventry at Turf Moor.
Masked striker Leon Best headed home in the 44th minute to put the Sky Blues ahead before Eagles levelled matters with an effort in keeping with his Manchester United education.
Eagles - who entered the fray as part of a triple substitution by Clarets boss Owen Coyle in the 71st minute - raced on to a pass from fellow substitute Jay Rodriquez and superbly lofted the ball over visiting goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
For Coventry, going nowhere in the Championship but dangerous on their day as Burnley's neighbours Blackburn almost discovered to their cost in the FA Cup last weekend, it was nearly the perfect smash and grab raid.
Burnley were largely dominant but the Sky Blues' central defensive partnership of Scott Dann and Ben Turner held firm until Eagles struck.
The Clarets have won many admirers this season for their attractive, high-tempo brand of football which accounted for Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Carling Cup and took them to within two minutes of beating Tottenham in the semi-final.
They also have an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Arsenal to look forward to but promotion must surely be the priority for the famous old Lancashire outfit.
Wade Elliott and Robbie Blake quickly emerged as the Clarets' most potent weapons on either flank.
In the third minute Elliott's delightful crossfield pass found Blake lurking on the left flank and his vicious whipped cross required Stephen Wright to make a vital headed clearance at the near post.
Turner then did likewise after Martin Paterson crossed dangerously but it was all too easy for the visitors, who grew in confidence as the half wore on.
With Clinton Morrison and Best leading their attack the visitors posed a threat up front.
And they were rewarded when Best headed them in front shortly before the break after Stephen Jordan allowed Jordan Henderson to hook the ball in from the right flank.
In fairness to Burnley, they responded in the right way in the second half and Paterson kept Westwood warm with well-struck right-foot shots shortly after the restart.
In the 54th minute Paterson greeted Elliott's cross with a firm header which flew over the crossbar and then Steve Thompson blazed over after a neat pass from Blake played him in.
Burnley skipper Steven Caldwell then saw a header kicked off the line by Michael Doyle but Coyle made a triple substitution in the 71st minute - replacing Jordan, Thompson and Blake with Rodriquez, Eagles and Kevin McDonald.
The Scot was rewarded in the last minute of normal time when Rodriguez found Eagles on the left side of the penalty area and his delightful left-footed shot flew over Westwood and into the far corner.
CCFC
Coventry City were undone by a late equaliser for the second time in four days at Turf Moor after Chris Eagles cancelled out Leon Best's first-half opener with a minute to go.
There were signs that an equaliser was on the cards in the second half as the Sky Blues continually repelled wave after wave of Burnley attack.
And while the Sky Blues edged the first half yet deservedly led at half-time, no-one could deny the Clarets their deserved equaliser.
The sides matched each other like for like for the majority of the first half but it took a great crossfield ball and a bit of trickery from Jordan Henderson to allow Best to break the deadlock.
The hosts enjoyed the best of the play in the opening five minutes, right winger Wade Elliott and left-back Stephen Jordan both making progress down the flanks and supplying a number of crosses.
For all of the Clarets' early possession though, the Sky Blues never looked under a great deal of trouble and Chris Coleman's new look back four appeared to be arshalling a front pairing of Steven Thompson and Michael Paterson quite well.
It was infact Aron Gunnarsson who provided the first truly threatening move after six minutes with one of his trademark long throws which was delivered into the heart of the Burnley penalty area but was collected by Clarets 'keeper Brian Jensen.
Danny Fox also had a go with a set piece from 30 yards although Jensen had no great trouble scrambling across goal to collect the effort.
It took the hosts 17 minutes to rustle up their first effort on target, Thompson's effort from the edge of the area forcing Westwood in a low save to his right.
But Henderson had an ambitious effort five minutes later, firing a 35-yard half volley which lacked the legs to beat Jensen.
Thompson headed over the bar for Burnley just before the half hour, Elliott supplying the cross after an initial wayward corner found him near the opposite corner flag.
And almost straight on the counter attack, City's Michael Doyle forced some work out of Jensen with a 30-yard effort which was pushed wide by the Clarets shot stopper.
Burnely defender Graham Alexander almost had a half chance to open the scoring with eight minutes of the first half to go, Elliott's low cross finding him unmarked by the penalty area although he was forced away from goal by three City defenders.
But it was City who opened the scoring five minutes later after a superb move.
Doyle spread the ball right, City benefiting from some good fortune as the pass squirmed through Stephen Jordan's legs to find Henderson.
The on-loan City winger then worsened Jordan's plight by skipping past him and getting to the byline before floating a cross to Best at the back post, the masked Sky Blues striker heading downwards and inside Brian Jensen's post.
Burnley set their stall out to attack at the beginning of the second half, the Sky Blues pinned back in their own half for the first 20 minutes bar the occasional clearance or half-skirmish upfield.
For the most part though their defending was as impeccable as it was desperate at times.
Keiren Westwood, Michael Doyle and Stephen Wright combined to make two goal line clearances from Martin Paterson's header just after the hour.
Paterson put through Steven Thompson through for his own chance to level five minutes before, Thompson lifting the ball over both Keiren Westwood and his crossbar.
Elliott continued to cause problems down the right for Burnley in the second half, three minutes after the hour firing in a low cross Westwood had to pounce on ahead of Paterson.
But the hosts were rejuvenated by a triple substitution with 20 minutes to go, most notably by goalscorer Eagles who remained a constant threat down the left flank during his short stint on the pitch.
Paterson also had a great opportunity to level with seven minutes togo for the home side, a ball glancing off Scott Dann's head into his path only for the Northern Irishman to head straight into Westwood's chest.
But Eagles proved the hero for the Clarets a minute from time, latching onto a through ball and chipping over the oncoming Westwood to snatch a last-gasp point for Burnley and succeed where so many of their starting attacking players failed.
While disappointing for the travelling Sky Blue Army, not many could argue the shared spoils were anything but fair but the style in which Chris Coleman's side took the game by the scruff of the neck bodes very for them for the rest of the season.
4thegame
A goal in the last minute from substitute Chris Eagles rescued a point for Owen Coyle's promotion-chasing team, against a resolute Coventry City side.
Burnley started brightly with wide-men Robbie Blake and Wade Elliott providing an early challenge for the visitors' defence.
However, it was the Sky Blues who had the first shot on target through a Daniel Fox free-kick.
Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood made his first save after 17 minutes, diving to his right to deny a Steven Thompson strike from 20 yards.
Jordan Henderson tested Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen with an ambitious attempt from fully 30 yards.
On the half-hour mark, Jensen had to produce a fine save to keep out a left-foot shot from Michael Doyle.
Coventry took the lead two minutes before the interval when a Stephen Jordan mistake allowed Henderson to get to the by-line and his far post cross was headed home by Leon Best.
Westwood was called into action to save twice from Martin Paterson early in the second half before producing an even better save to deny Graham Alexander after a well-worked corner routine.
After Paterson had headed over the crossbar, the Clarets missed a golden opportunity when Thompson blazed a shot over with only Westwood to beat.
It looked as though it wasn't going to be Burnley's night when, on the hour mark, both Thompson and Michael Duff had attempts blocked on the goal-line.
With 20 minutes remaining boss Coyle made a triple substitution and, with time running out, two of those substitutes combined as Jay Rodriguez headed the ball into the path of Eagles for the equaliser.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 10:42 pm
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