By Longsider Team
January 11 2004

A look back at the game against Crystal Palace through the eyes of the media. Today we give you two reports of the game from the Sunday Times and the Sporting Life. BURNLEY REFUSE TO YIELD
(Sunday Times)

A STRANGE thing happened yesterday. Not the fact that neither Crystal Palace nor Burnley, two teams experiencing disappointing seasons, failed to find the net or produce a single moment of notoriety. The biggest surprise was that Burnley, with the worst defensive away record in the First Division, recorded their first goalless draw in 54 league games. Perhaps the new year has brought them some new luck.
“In one way, it was unlike us not to score. But then, I suppose, it was also unlike us not to concede one as well,” said manager Stan Ternent, who was assistant manager at Palace almost 14 years ago.

After surviving long periods of pressure, Burnley’s defence held firm to claim a valuable away point after four consecutive league defeats. They even produced the game’s best chance when defender David May’s bullet header from Robbie Blake’s inswinging cross required Thomas Myhre to make an outstanding save.

Both teams wasted numerous chances. Burnley striker Ian Moore slipped in the penalty area when he was about to shoot, and Palace’s Julian Gray fired over from eight yards from Andy Johnson’s cut-back.

The game improved in the second half, although Burnley were lucky not to concede a penalty when defender Lee Roche handled as he tumbled to the ground.

Four games now into his managerial tenure at Palace, Iain Dowie was at least happy with the performance.



BURNLEY 0 CRYSTAL PALACE 0
(Sporting Life)

Burnley were involved in their first goalless draw in the league since November 2002 as they ended a run of four successive First Division defeats with a hard-fought point at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Andy Johnson and Julian Gray coming close, but the Clarets improved after the break and could have snatched all three points with better finishing.

The Eagles made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 by Tottenham in the FA Cup, with Thomas Myhre, Curtis Fleming, Danny Granville and Jamie Smith all starting.

Mohammed Camara replaced James McEveley in Burnley's line-up after the on-loan Blackburn defender suffered a dislocated kneecap during last week's win at Mansfield.

Defender Fleming lasted just 12 minutes on his return before limping out of the action as both sides struggled to settle in the early stages.

Johnson, with 15 goals so far this season, could have added to his tally after 28 minutes, but his close-range header from Gray's cross flew past the upright.

Palace, who went into the game having won three of their last four First Division matches, continued to pile on the pressure, with Gray coming close from two quickfire efforts.

He brought a fine save from Brian Jensen with a stinging right-footed drive, before firing a shot inches over the crossbar from 20 yards moments later.

Iain Dowie's men finished the half well on top, with Neil Shipperley and Johnson both spurning good openings.

Burnley sent on Glen Little for the ineffective Luke Chadwick shortly after the restart, but it was Palace who were straight back onto the attack, with Ben Watson lashing over from 25 yards.

The Eagles replaced Wayne Routledge with Dougie Freedman, who scored a hat-trick at Turf Moor in a 3-2 victory on the opening day of the season, in a bid to snatch the opening goal.

But it took a stunning stop from Myhre just after the hour to keep Palace in the game.

Robbie Blake crossed for Mark McGregor to head powerfully goalwards, but Myhre superbly tipped his effort around the post.

At the other end, Jensen matched his Palace counterpart with an equally impressive save to keep out Watson's 30-yard piledriver.

Blake, who was also on target in the season's opener, was denied once again by Myhre with 20 minutes remaining, and should have done better from six yards after 86 minutes, but he sent his shot wide.

However, it was Palace who came closest to a dramatic winner, as first Granville and then Gray were denied by the impressive Jensen.

Teams

Crystal Palace Myhre, Fleming (Borrowdale 12), Popovic (Black 73), Smith, Granville, Routledge, Watson, Butterfield, Gray, Johnson, Shipperley (Freedman 61).

Subs Not Used: Berthelin, Soares.

Burnley Jensen, Roche, May, McGregor, Camara, Chadwick (Little 52), Chaplow (Branch 79), Grant, Weller, Blake, Ian Moore.

Subs Not Used: Alan Moore, West, Pilkington.

Booked: Grant.

Att: 15,276

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).