Issue 7: Still one last chance...

It's clutching at straws time for BFC.

Once again, the team put itself in a great position with the 1-0 win over Charlton last week, and once again, they blew all their good work with a poor performance riddled with defensive mistakes against an average Wolves side.

The defence that had looked so solid against Pardew's side suddenly looked like a bomb had hit it when Mad Mick's team rolled up.

Now, nearly the last place we would want to go needing a result is probably the 3-sided disgrace of a stadium that is Deepdale. So obviously, Preston away is our next game. North End are in good form at the moment and will be looking to put another three points in the bag to avoid relegation.

We must show that we want it as much as they do. The desire of the players has been called into question this week but personally I think it is stage fright. As soon as the expectation levels rise, usually on the back of a good result, in classic Burnley style - we throw it away. It's just the way it is. We always do it.


In the week that he was named in George Burley's first Scotland squad, Graham Alexander will return to his stomping ground for all those years, after he chose to join PNE instead of us when he left Luton Town.

Alexander was famous at PNE for converting those dodgy penalties they seem to get against us every year. Like the one when Fuller dived between our centre-backs in front of the Cricket Field stand. Like the one where Lee Roche was fouled off the pitch by Richard Cresswell and PNE got a spot-kick for it. Like so many others over the years.

Hopefully though, Alexander's penalty prowess will come in handy for us for the first time on Saturday. It must be our turn for some luck at Deepdale, surely.

Over the last few years we've seen some classic Lancashire derbies between the two sides. There was King Arthur's game, where the big defender notched twice in a 3-2 away win for the Clarets. There was the nightmare 5-3 defeat under Stan at the same ground. There was the 2-1 win at Turf Moor with Bertie Bee rugby-tackling the streaker. This year PNE won a pulsating match 3-2, where the referee was the centre of attention. But my favourite of recent years was last year's home game.

And to sign off for this week, here's how the drama (and that is no exaggeration, I watched the game in my Union in Sunderland and hardly touched my pint I was so gripped!) unfolded:



PS - Love the present Gray gave St. Ledger after the big oaf's own goal. Classic.