Issue 4: It's a results game

Although we came away with a 2-0 win in the re-arranged game over Coventry at Turf Moor, the reaction from the fans was blase to say the least.

In difficult conditions Burnley put away the Sky Blues with something approaching ease, despite how poor the home form has been all season.

Skipper Steven Caldwell scored his first goal for the club and this week he has again spoken positively to the press, this time about the club's play-off chances.

However, at this stage of the season, winning is all that counts. Owen Coyle said that we'd played better at Plymouth and lost, but that is just the way it goes sometimes. I'm sure most Burnley fans would sacrifice free-flowing football for a place in the play-offs right now.

The win was achieved without Andrew Cole, again missing with his achilles problem. Cole has also been in the news this week for all the wrong reasons, but hopefully the matter will be resolved quickly and it won't affect his football.

Cole should be back for the critical home game with Watford on Saturday. We all know what style of football Watford will play so Coyle may well pick a more physical line up to try and combat the long ball tactics we are sure to face.


The reserves played this week against PNE reserves and although the result was disappointing there were positives to take from comebacks for both Alan Mahon and Michael Duff.

Both players could play a huge part in the run-in, particularly Mahon who I feel offers something different to our midfield and can be an option for the problem left wing position.

Speaking of the run-in, their has been much debate on the next few games. They're all tough, and when we come through this set of matches we'll have a much better idea of our chances.

Another home win this weekend would really put us in a good position. I reckon it'll be a draw, 2-2, with Cole and Joey grabbing the goals.

Issue 3: Must win? Maybe..

After the bump back to earth that was defeat at Plymouth, there is an early chance for redemption tomorrow night with a home game against Coventry. The home form has been worrying all season, and it is imperative we improve at Turf Moor if we're to get in the mix-up at the end of the season.

Coventry will have the pacy Michael Mifsud in their side, so it is important that Clarke Carlisle is fit to play. The rest of our defence is woefully short of pace. Defending has been an issue of late, with players out of fitness and form or both, and also seemingly not in sync with goalkeeper Brian Jensen. The Beast may pay the ultimate price for inexplicably conceding the first goal at Home Park, losing his place to Kiraly. But that would be papering over the cracks, we need to be more solid at the back.

Up front, it seems that Akinbiyi and Cole may miss out again due to injury and illness respectively, leaving us short of striking options. Robbie Blake has been hit and miss all season and Kyle Lafferty is struggling to win the fans over.


For me, the case with Kyle is clear cut. He's young, only 20 years old. He's played most of his games for Burnley in an unfamiliar left wing position. From that position he's tried to be a winger when he blatantly isn't one. He's tried to cut inside and be a striker. He's tried to get involved in the game. Those of us with half-decent memories will remember he was our best player in the Arsenal game until his red card. The talent is there, it just needs time to mature.

However, Burnley fans are notorious for not giving players time, and it may well work out that Lafferty leaves in the summer to prove himself elsewhere and we miss out on a top-quality striker due to a sheer lack of patience. Time will tell.

So, to the Coventry game. To use a well-worn cliche, every game until the end of the season is now a Cup Final and needs to be approached as such. Win tomorrow and the gap is back down to two points and it's game on. Fail to win, however, and yet again we'll have dropped points at home that we need to collect to be deserving of a play-off place.

Coventry have recently appointed Chris Coleman and I'm not too sure it's a good move. Coleman had his Fulham team playing nice football but still losing. Owen Coyle's side are capable of out-footballing any team in the league on their day. Coventry are in a mess at the moment and we need to take full advantage.

Let's hope that the side puts in a good shift and picks up a crucial win.

Issue 2: The first of many huge games

The end of the season is coming quickly.

We currently lie on the shoulder of the play-off pack. One club always makes a late break and secures their spot in the end of season lottery. We need to make it us.

Plymouth tomorrow is a massive match. They occupy the space in the league directly above us, and defeat could leave us 7 points adrift.

There is no reason why we can't go there and win. The mood around the club is buoyant, following the amazing comeback at QPR and all the right noises are coming out of the club.


Andrew Cole is likely to miss out through injury but Ade Akinbiyi hasn't let us down yet this season. Ade has received a lot of stick from some Burnley fans, but personally I think he could yet have a big impact. Cole and Akinbiyi is a forward partnership that would worry any defence at this level.

This week we've also had great news on the injury front. The Duffman may be back in action in a month and Clarke Carlisle is nearing match fitness. We have missed Carlisle's pace at the back at times and this week he has been praising the quality of the squad.

Congratulations also go out to Duffer for the birth of his first child. Well done fella.

Back to the game tomorrow, and the Clarets are expected to line up with no changes apart from Akinbiyi coming in for Cole. I predict a 2-1 win for Burnley with Akinbiyi and Blake netting.

Issue 1: So this is the start..

..I suppose I should briefly introduce myself.

My name is Jamie, I am 19 years old and I am studying Journalism at Sunderland University.

That should do for now. You don't need to know my shoe size, what my family upbringing was like or any of that malarkey.

This blog will concentrate on the trials and tribulations of being an exiled Burnley fan. Not sure what I did in a past life to deserve being a Claret but once you get a taste of Burnley FC, it is in your blood forever. You could say that the blood that runs through my veins is Claret, and you wouldn't be far wrong.

The blog name comes from a comment made by Burnley boss Owen Coyle after a blatant penalty was denied us by yet another incompetent referee. We tend to get rather a lot of them. Incompetent referees will probably be quite a fixture in this blog.

To finish off for now, congratulations to Andrew Cole on completely proving me wrong at QPR. I thought he was past it. I thought his legs had gone. I was wrong. Hopefully Cole can be the catalyst that gets us into the play-offs.

I'll sign off for now, we have a weekend off now so a friendly is lined up against Bohemians.