By Tom Pickup
March 21 2005

Burnley lost 2-1 on Saturday to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, after giving away an easy goal in the first half, then early in the second half to gift the Blades the game. Burnley scored a late consolation goal through new-signing Ade Akinbyi.

WARNOCK: 'PLAYERS EARN HOLIDAY'

Delighted Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock watched his side climb into the Coca-Cola Championship play-off zone with victory against Burnley - then prepared to pack his players off on holiday to Cyprus.

Goals either side of the break from Alan Quinn and Andy Gray elevated the Blades to sixth in the table to render Ade Akinbiyi's late strike for Burnley little more than consolation.

Warnock has arranged a four-day break in Cyprus for his players, with the international calendar ensuring the Blades do not play again until their crunch clash with play-off rivals Reading on April 2.

The Blades boss, who will not make the trip due to his pursuit of a number of transfer targets, said: "They've earned a bit of sunshine on their backs. I said to them before the game that they don't want to go away having thrown this wonderful opportunity away.

"It is time for them to have a break after all their exertions since Christmas. Being in the play-off zone is a massive psychological boost to us and now we are hoping that Brighton can get a result against Reading on Monday."

Warnock was encouraged by the win against the Clarets and believes they are playing with renewed confidence.

He added: "I thought we deserved to win and I am delighted with the result. To be fair to them, they came and played two up front for a change.

"We played some good stuff at times and as always everyone was biting their nails at the end after we gave away a silly goal.

"But we were very professional, solid and didn't let them back in. The lads played without fear today and we should have scored more goals.

"The confidence is coming back and it is the same with the fans."

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill was left to rue a string of missed first-half opportunities which should have seen his side open the scoring.

Graham Branch and Akinbiyi both missed gilt-edged chances during the opening half hour before United seized the initiative and went on to claim the points.

Cotterill said: "Goals changed games - during the first half we could have scored four goals quite easily.

"But we didn't take them. Then they go and get one and it's a different game. Our goal at the end was no more than a consolation.

"I thought Ade looked rusty and as if he hadn't played for two-and-a-half months.

"All the other players looked as if they had played too many games in the last two and a half months, so we couldn't even strike a happy medium."

However, the Clarets' chief could at least console himself with a two-week break before his side's next game.

Cotterill's threadbare squad has been stretched to the limit in recent weeks amid a heavy schedule of Championship and FA Cup fixtures.

But Cotterill is looking forward to two weeks of much-needed respite.

"It's good, but it's a pity we couldn't have had it earlier in the season because that's when we really needed it."

from Sporting Life

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Sheffield United moved into the top six with a 2-1 win against Burnley, but were thankful that The Clarets could not find their cutting edge in front of goal at Bramall Lane.

Ade Akinbiyi scored late on in his first start for Burnley, but the visitors were made to pay for a plethora of missed chances by goals from Alan Quinn and Andy Gray.

Graham Branch had continued his poor form in front of goal with two bad misses early on, planting a header wide and firing well over when well placed.

The Blades then took the lead against the run of play, when Burnley keeper Brian Jensen made a hash of a Rob Kozluk out-swinger and Quinn volleyed into the untended net.

Steve Kabba nearly extended United's lead with a brace of chances, but it was Andy Gray who finally gave the hosts a cushion early in the second half.

The striker benefited from a fine one-two with Quinn to run through and slot home his 14th goal of the season.

Akinbiyi, sent off just two minutes into his debut and only now returning from a three match ban, had inevitably been harangued by the Blades fans throughout, but the striker silenced them late on with a consolation.

The former Stoke man is determined to win over the Burnley fans, and he took his first step when he fired home with six-minutes remaining after substitute Ian Moore had cut-back.

from Planet Football

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What did you think of the game? How do you feel about Burnley's recent form, or them havin 14 games without a win at Bramall Lane. Still think we can make the playoffs? Talk about it in out message board