By Longsider
January 19 2004

Burnley 1 West Brom 1
(Sporting Life)

West Brom displayed the battling qualities with which they are synonymous to earn a 1-1 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor.

Despite playing more than an hour with 10 men and falling behind against the run of play to Robbie Blake's strike, the Baggies responded admirably and salvaged a point through Geoff Horsfield.

Horsfield became the first player to breach the Burnley defence when he struck in the 73rd minute, and the visitors' feat was made to look all the more impressive given that they lost Rob Hulse to a first-half sending-off.

Hulse's dismissal in the 27th minute for a foul on Mark McGregor was the major talking point of an otherwise uneventful opening 45 minutes.

Neil Clement's powerful strike, beaten away by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen, represented the best chance during a drab start to the game.

Horsfield also went close for West Brom in the 16th minute, forcing a fine save out of the in-form Jensen from close range, but there was little to excite the home fans as Burnley struggled to find their rhythm.

Blake's free-kick, which whistled wide of Russell Hoult's goal, was the closest the Clarets came to breaking the deadlock, while Hulse sent an ambitious 25-yard volley over the crossbar at the other end of the pitch.

There was also time for Hulse to try his luck with a mis-hit shot before his dismissal in the 27th minute, referee Nigel Miller left with little option but to show the red card for an ugly challenge.

West Brom did not appear unduly troubled by the loss of their leading scorer, however, and continued to look the side more likely to open the scoring.

Clement unleashed another fierce left-footed shot on the half-hour mark which Jensen was forced to parry, although Darren Moore did well to block Blake's effort after Clement had sold Hoult short with a backpass, and Graham Branch headed wide from Lee Roche's cross.

Burnley were thankful for the frame of the goal to preserve the status quo eight minutes after the interval, Horsfield hitting with woodwork with a well-struck free-kick.

Clement stung Jensen's palms once again and, Graham Branch's wayward shot apart, Burnley showed few signs of being capable of breaching the West Brom defence until Blake pounced.

Glen Little made an incisive run into the penalty area before feeding Blake, who swivelled expertly before sweeping a left-footed shot past Hoult.

Burnley's lead lasted just five minutes. Horsfield, set up by the influential Clement, beat Jensen with a fine drive that found the top right-hand corner.

Clement continued to test Jensen, and saw another long-distance effort well kept out by the Dane late on.


Teams

Burnley: Jensen, Roche, May, McGregor, Camara, Chadwick (West 45), Grant, Branch (Alan Moore 78), Little, Blake, Ian Moore.

Subs Not Used: Pilkington, O'Neill, Abbey.

Booked: Grant, McGregor.

Goals: Blake 68.

West Brom: Hoult, James Chambers, Haas (Dyer 72), Gaardsoe, Moore (Kinsella 87), Robinson, Johnson, Gregan, Clement, Horsfield, Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Sakiri, Hughes.

Sent Off: Hulse (27).

Booked: Haas, Horsfield.

Goals: Horsfield 73.

Att: 13,106

Ref: N Miller (Durham).