Alexander the Great


By Longsider
March 7 2004

The Lancashire Derby ended 1-1 yesterday and once again we bring you reports through the eyes of the media. For this game we present you two reports from the Sunday Times and Sporting Life TITLE

Media Reports
ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Sunday Times
 
A BAD-TEMPERED local derby produced seven yellow cards, one red and countless bumps and bruises but little of real value for either side in their quest to make progress at opposite ends of the table.

Burnley, displaying greater finesse, had looked on course for their first win in four games after Robbie Blake had given them the lead.

 

 

But with the hosts and referee David Pugh gradually losing their grip, Preston fought their way back to inch a point closer to the playoffs, thanks to Graham Alexander’s second-half penalty, though Ricardo Fuller was sent off in stoppage time for lashing out at Burnley’s Glen Little.

Fuller, who had wasted Preston’s best chance of pinching a win, had tried the patience of Pugh before being dismissed for violent conduct for the second time this season. Preston manager Craig Brown hopes video evidence may reduce the punishment to spare his leading scorer a four-match ban.

Pugh, who made a rod for his own back with his earlier leniency, managed to upset both managers. Burnley’s Stan Ternent despaired at the penalty verdict, which pegged back his side, beaten just once since the turn of the year, with almost an hour gone.

Blake has been in outstanding form this season and even though man-marker Tyrone Mears rarely left his side, the striker still found space to side-foot home after Little had cleverly exploited Chris Lucketti’s mistake.

Ian Moore missed a chance to make it 2-0 and, after Preston had been encouraged by Michael Keane’s shot, which was superbly tipped over by Brian Jensen, Fuller spotted Mo Camara’s outstretched leg and gleefully went to ground to gain Alexander his spot-kick.

 

Burnley: Jensen, Branch (A Moore 79min), May, West, Camara, Grant, Chaplow, McGregor, Little, Blake, I Moore

Preston North End: Lonergan, Alexander, Jackson, Lucketti (Lewis h-t), Mears, Etuhu (McCormack 55min), Keane, Edwards, Cresswell, Healy, Fuller

Scorers: Burnley: Blake 19

Preston North End: Alexander 58 pen

Referee: D Pugh

Attendance: 15,837

 
PRESTON GRAB CONTROVERSIAL POINT

Sporting Life

Graham Alexander's hotly-disputed 58th-minute penalty secured a point for Preston, who had top scorer Ricardo Fuller sent off in stoppage-time, in a 1-1 draw at Burnley.

Fuller, booked in the first-half for a foul, received a straight red card after appearing to throw a punch at Glen Little and now faces a four-match suspension.

Burnley, still deep in relegation trouble, had earlier got themselves into a winning position after their own leading scorer Robbie Blake scored his 16th of the season.

All the after-match inquests revolved around the penalty and the sending-off.

Preston boss Craig Brown said: "I didn't have a clear view of the penalty. The referee said Ricardo had thrown a punch and if he did then he deserved to go. But no-one else seemed to see it that way.

"He was just using his hand to hold off an opponent and I'll have to look at the video before I decide what to do.

"But it shouldn't detract from what was a very competitive and entertaining game."

Burnley manager Stan Ternent refused to comment on the dismissal, saying only: "As far as the sending-off was concerned I don't speak about other teams' players.

"As for the penalty, well it just wasn't one and shouldn't have been given. We were by far and away the better team in what was a fantastic derby game.

"I can't change the decision though and will have to pick my players up and get on with it."

Burnley, looking to avenge a 5-3 defeat at Preston just before Christmas, were ahead in just 18 minutes.

Little took advantage of a slip by Preston defender Chris Lucketti to square a pass across goal and give Blake a straightforward scoring opportunity.

Preston came back strongly and only a brilliant diving save from Brian Jensen prevented Michael Keane equalising with a fierce 20-yard shot.

The visitors were fortunate to draw level when Fuller was adjudged to have been brought down by Burnley full-back, Mo Camara. It looked harsh but Alexander kept a cool head to send Jensen the wrong way.

The equaliser lifted Preston's spirits and Fuller was guilty of missing three great chances to win it.

He consistently got the better of the Burnley defence but too often tried to go it alone when a colleague was better placed.

His incident-packed afternoon was complete with a red card right at the death - which will hit Preston hard as they can ill afford to lose their star man for four matches at such a crucial point in the season.

 

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