By CCFC Sid
March 14 2004

Whether this emphatic victory was down to CCFC brilliance, or just down to a very poor Burnley display, I don't know, but another couple of CCFC wins could see the "asterisks" coming off the word p**y o**s!! Despite/because of a very unlucky 3-0 defeat the week before, Eric Black kept faith with the same XI who started against WBA - and they did not disappoint.

Callum Davenport gave another assured display at the back for CCFC, though every player in a Sky Blue shirt was outstanding. Gudjonsson was again behind most things decent created for CCFC, while Peter Clarke again did enough to suggest that this should not be his last appearance in a CCFC shirt - SIGN HIM UP!!

CCFC missed two glorious chances in the opening five minutes, then finally opened the scoring just before 10 minutes had elapsed. McSheffrey got behind the Burnley defence and crossed for Joachim, who showed more desire to win the ball than the Burnley defence, and fired past Jensen.

The highly-rated Little was causing CCFC problems down the left, showing a few touches that wouldn't have looked out of place on a bigger stage, though Grainger and Staunton did get to grips with him eventually, forcing him to swap wings.

One cross-come-shot on 21 minutes was just touched on by Shearer, with the CCFC keeper doing enough to put Paul Weller out of his stride, and he fired into the side netting when he would perhaps have been expected to score. A few minutes later a fine challenge from Davenport stopped a decent goal-scoring opportunity for the away side, and with that, their challenge was just about ended....

A Gudjonsson pass set up Delomeaux, who blazed over the bar, and minutes later Gary McSheffrey spurned a relatively simple chance too - but he made up for it a minute later! What looked like a terrible cross from Gudjonsson was missed by Jensen, and McSheffrey headed home for 2-0.

After 37 minutes, Joachim left the Burnley defence trailing in his wake, before being brought down in the area by Jensen. Quite how much contact was actually made is debatable, but the referee saved Jensen from an early shower, opting to show only a yellow card (Possibly thanks in part to Jensen's reaction to the thought of being sent off).

McSheffrey's penalty was superbly struck, with Jensen barely moving before it hit the back of the net, giving CCFC a 3-0 half-time lead.

The first ten minutes of the second half was as one-sided a contest as is possible, and, had a catalogue of chances not been wasted, the recent demolition of Walsall could have looked like a close run thing by comparison!

A CCFC corner was missed by all, and, with twenty of the 22 players on the pitch crammed into Burnley's six yard area, Delomeaux disappointingly hit a cross straight into Jensen's grateful arms. Gudjonsson had a shot saved by the Burnley keeper a minute later, and a poor clearance soon after was seized upon by McSheffrey, who rounded Jensen, but didn't strike the ball hard enough to grab his hat-trick (With May clearing off the line).

McSheffrey was then hauled down after getting past the last Burnley defender, but once again the referee showed leniency by only showing a yellow card. He then turned provider, setting up Joachim, whose effort hit the post and bounced out to safety.

The sometimes impressive Little was lucky to escape any real punishment for kicking out at Doyle, as once again the referee opted for leniency (Having also not bothered booking Blake earlier in the match for blatantly kicking the ball away after the whistle had gone).

Adebola replaced Joachim after 72 minutes, receiving a great welcome from those who have sometimes been known to be "not so nice" to him! Some fine work from Gudjonsson saw a cross aimed towards Adebola, but Jensen parried clear before he could add his name to the scoresheet.

A Beckham-esque chip from distance by McSheffrey on 75 minutes was gathered just under the bar from Jensen, but a minute later CCFC finally got their fourth goal - from an unlikely source!

Konjic had replaced Staunton on 75 minutes, and his first touch was in the Burnley penalty area, resulting in a scrambled clearance. The ball was crossed straight back in, and the Bosnian finally got his name on the scoresheet.

Soon after, Konjic showed great skill on the edge of the Burnley area, and attempted to score with a cheeky lob (Which ended up missing the target by a fair distance!).

It took a while for the `We Want Five' chants to start up, but they did, and CCFC tried to duly oblige, with decent late efforts from Doyle and Barrett just failing to give the fans what they had asked for - not that any of them left disappointed! (Though unbelievably, quite a few did leave early! If ever a CCFC performance deserved to be watched to the end, and finished with a standing ovation....).