By The Longside
August 7 2004

The Championship League season kicked off today and the first game for the Clarets was against the Blades. This is how the game went.

With temperatures in the late twenties, the Clarets kicked off their campaign as the warm weather makes a debut appearance in August.

 

The Clarets came on wearing the new strip with the Blade’s not far behind with their blinding fluorescent orange shirts.

 

We lined up roughly as follows:

 

Coyne

Camara McGreal Sinclair Duff

Chaplow Branch Grant Hyde

Moore Blake

 

We kicked off taking a lively start with both Blake and McGreal testing the Blades’ defence in the first minute and the pressure from the Clarets continued throughout the half. Duff after ten minutes tried to shoot through the United defence but the shot went wide. Moments later a shot from Liddell struck the back of the net but he was clearly offside and we were given a free kick.

 

Minutes later, great play from Chaplow allowed Micah Hyde to take the lead from a clearance by Andy Gray. 1-0

 

Sheffield United did have some attempts though in this half with Coyne making some good saves to keep us in the lead.

 

After the half-time entertainment went wrong the teams were back on the pitch. The cheerleaders came on with their mothers and the music to which they were performing to was coming from a CD which must have been badly scratched with the song jamming after the first few seconds. Either that or the PA guy didn’t want to see the mothers dancing.

 

It was Uniteds turn to put on pressure and have the better half. Coyne and the Claret’s defence were tested well by Warnock’s team. Frank Sinclair kept us in the game, clearing the ball of the line.

 

It was Bromby and his throws which were causing the problem. His long throws into the box enabled the Blades to have a better opportunity of scoring and that’s what they did when Gray struck from close range, also sending the good support from Sheffield crazy with joy. 1-1

 

The pressure continued and I personally was relieved to hear the full time whistle and know we had taken a point.

 

Burnley: Coyne, Camara, McGreal, Sinclair, Duff, Chaplow, Blake, Branch, Moore, Grant (Roche, 84) Hyde.

Subs not used: Jensen, O’Neill, Pilkington, Townsend.

 

Sheffield United: Kenny, Wright, Montgomery, Tonge, Morgan, Bromby, Liddell (Forte, 78) Gray, Harley, Jagielka, Hayles (Ward, 67)

Subs not used: Quinn, McCall, Ross.

 

Bookings: Ian Moore 42 minutes.

Attendance: 16956

 

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