Burnley 3 Crewe 0

By Longsider
September 30 2004

Burnley picked up 3 points for the first time at Turf Moor this season. John McGreal, Robbie Blake and Richard Chaplow were the scorers in a comfrtable victory over Crewe.

Steve Cotterill was forced to make one change due to the suspension Micah Hyde is currently serving so Lee Roche was the man brought into the side. We also changed system from our usual 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 so we lined:-

Coyne

Duff McGreal Sinclair Camara

Roche Grant Chaplow Branch

Moore Blake.

Burnley were dominant throughout the game and took the lead after 12 minutes when a Tony Grant corner was flicked on at the near post by Branch for John McGreal to head in from 6 yards out. The Clarets had a number of other good chances before Blake got on the scoresheet. Richard Chaplow started the move when he won possession in the middle of the Crewe half and released Ian Moore on the right, his first time cross eluded a defender and Blake punced to double the lead.

The second half was a continuation of the first half with Richard Chaplow scoring a lovely goal after being feed through by Robbie Blake, Ian Moore hit the post late on in the game and Crewe hit the bar in one of their rare attacking moments.

"I'm delighted with that," said Cotterill after the game.

"It's our first home win of the season and is one for the fans.

"There were some terrific performances throughout the team today in what could've been a tricky game for us.

"It was nice to keep a clean sheet too and Danny made a couple of decent saves at an important stage of the game."

It was 12 days since the disappointment of the defeat to Gillingham on August 30, but Cotterill refused to acknowledge whether or not the break had done his squad any good.

"I thought we looked tired in the last 20 minutes," he said.

"So whether the break did us any good or not, I don't know, but we've won so it might have done!"

Cotterill was also pleased with the goals his team scored against Dario Gradi's men.

"For the first, it was a great ball in and a good flick on.

"And Robbie drifted in there for the second, whilst the third was a good goal too.

"I thought Ian Moore was outstanding today too. He worked hard throughout and he'll get a goal sooner rather than later."

Scores from the rest of our league:-

Derby 2 Reading 1

Gillingham 0 Sunderland 4

Leeds 3 Coventry 0

Nottingham Forest 0 Cardiff 0

Preston 3 Stoke 0