By Longsider
March 20 2004

A look back at yesterday's game with Preston through the eyes of the media. Today we have reports from The Sunday Times and the Observe. TERNENT DENIES QUIT CLAIM AS FULLER HITS HAT-TRICK
(Sunday Times)



THERE was a sharp wind and a vicious rumour whipping around Deepdale last night as there were claims that Burnley manager Stan Ternent had resigned in the wake of this 5-3 defeat. Three times his team pulled themselves level in an entertaining Lancashire derby which featured a hat-trick from Preston’s Ricardo Fuller. Two Preston goals in the final eight minutes decided the game and prompted the belief that Ternent was about to jump ship, but he emerged from the visitors’ dressing room in defiant mood.
“Under no circumstances will I resign from Burnley Football Club,” said Ternent. “I have never quit in my life and I won’t do now.”



For much of this game his players had acted with similar resilience. Fuller gave Preston the lead on 18 minutes with one of those dazzling runs that have encouraged several Premiership clubs to monitor his progress. Collecting the ball just inside his own half, the Jamaican-born striker skipped past David May’s robust challenge and set off on a run, avoiding various Burnley boots before scoring with a right-footed drive.

Burnley responded with a goal on 24 minutes from Ian Moore, who finished neatly after Richard Chaplow’s drive had been deflected into his path. The persistence of second-half substitute David Healy led to Preston’s second goal on the hour. He set up Fuller but after some desperate Burnley defending, Eddie Lewis scored from close range. Within four minutes, the Clarets were level again as Arthur Gnohere headed home a Robbie Blake free kick.

On 71 minutes, Healy launched a through ball for the effervescent Fuller, who made it 3-2, only for Blake to restore parity seven minutes later, converting a penalty won through his own efforts.

For all their muscular endeavour, Burnley could not hide the nervous edge of a team that had conceded five or more goals five times in the First Division last season. Fuller completed his hat-trick with just eight minutes left and Healy capped a fine performance with the fifth two minutes from time.



FULLER'S TREBLE PILES PRESSURE ON TERNENT

(Observer)


Ricardo Fuller's hat-trick was the highlight of a pulsating Lancashire derby that saw Preston North End put five goals past Burnley and left Stan Ternent denying rumours that he had resigned.
Three times North End were pegged back by a spirited Burnley side for whom Robbie Blake starred, but Fuller and David Healy struck twice in the final eight minutes to settle the nerves of a captivated Deepdale crowd.

Ternent, whose Burnley side are now eighteenth, said: 'Under no circumstances will I resign from Burnley Football Club. I have never quit in my life and I won't do now. If they want me to leave, that's a different ball game.'

If Fuller's achievement will attract the most attention, it was the introduction of Healy that proved crucial. The Northern Ireland striker had a hand in second-half goals for Eddie Lewis and Fuller, and capped a stunning individual display with an 88th-minute strike of his own.

Preston's early dominance was rewarded by Fuller's opener - a stunning individual effort on the counter-attack - but Ian Moore equalised six minutes later.

Arthur Gnohere again demonstrated Burnley's powers of recovery after Lewis had restored Preston's lead, and Fuller's second was wiped out within seven minutes by Blake, who got the goal his display deserved from the penalty spot.

A fourth equaliser proved beyond Burnley after Fuller completed his hat-trick, and Healy's late goal provided a fitting finale to 90 minutes of uninhibited football.

The battle between Fuller and Burnley centre-half David May was a feature of the opening quarter of an hour. A goalbound shot by Fuller was superbly blocked by May, before the former Manchester United defender blundered to help gift Preston the lead after 18 minutes.

He was dispossessed on the halfway line by Fuller, who ran clear of the defender and slotted the ball past Brian Jensen. Burnley's threat was underlined when Moore equalised with a low drive after being set up by Richard Chaplow.

Healy's introduction soon after the break had an immediate impact. He had only been on the pitch three minutes when he fed Fuller, who crossed for Lewis to force the ball home from close range.

This time Preston's lead lasted just four minutes. Cresswell was penalised for a foul on Moore, and Blake swung in the free-kick for Gnohere, unmarked, to head past Gould.

It needed an excellent save from Gould to deny Moore, the importance of which was highlighted in the 71st minute when Healy crossed for Fuller to score.

But Blake restored parity from the spot in the 78th minute after being brought down by Marlon Broomes. Then the game swung back Preston's way when Fuller, fed by substitute Pawel Abbott, beat Jensen with a low, left-footed drive.

Fuller turned provider two minutes from time, setting up Healy to fire home.

Afterwards, Preston assistant manager Billy Davies sang the praises of a fantastic game but had words of criticism for his defence. 'We are convinced we could have stopped one or two of them going in,' he said.