Burnley unlucky not to take maximum points

NOT quite a maximum return on his latest foray into the transfer market for Stan Ternent.

But at least the Burnley boss and his side go into the New Year heading back in the right direction after rekindling the home fires that had threatened to go out over Christmas.

After successive bouts of Turf Moor torment against a couple of the Second Division's lesser lights, the Clarets were more than a match for second-placed Walsall.

In a boxing ring, Burnley would have taken this one on a majority verdict but with the killer punch missing they had to settle for a third successive draw over the holiday period.

That they did was also due to the fact that Ternent's re-modelled side didn't let their guard drop at the back.

Walsall also had their moments in one of the more entertaining goalless draws you are likely to see.

And Paul Crichton needed to make one stunning save as the Saddlers threatened to pinch all three points through Darren Wrack.

But generally the visitors' strikeforce was kept in check by a defensive partnership that could finally provide the answer to a problem that has dogged Burnley all season.

Steve Davis was brought back to Turf Moor by Ternent to hold together a leaking defence and the fans' favourite looked the part on his 'debut' following a £750,000 return move from Luton Town.

And throughout Burnley's trials and tribulations this season Brian Reid has always looked a useful acquisition - a belief he reinforced again on Saturday to suggest that between them, he and Davis could give the Clarets the base from which to progress. The other new boy on show also made a significant impact, Graham Branch announcing his arrival from Stockport with what could have been a match-winning performance.

As well as providing a supply line from the left flank, Branch displayed a handy knack of arriving in the penalty area at just the right moment.

Yet it wasn't to be a dream debut thanks to one mis-cued effort and a timely block from Neil Pointon which denied Branch an almost certain goal.

Just as close to a winner was one of Ternent's earlier batch of signings who made a dramatic entry into the fray when Branch's lack of recent matches caught up with him.

Peter Swan is also seeking a fresh start after injury problems and, having made way for fit-again top-scorer Andy Payton, he came off the bench with just 10 minutes to go.

That was long enough to win a succession of headers in the Walsall penalty area, one of which produced the first half of a memorable double save from Walsall keeper James Walker.

Walker's follow-up from Cooke cost Burnley their first win in six games.

But rather than attracting the derision of the crowd, which gave Davis a hero's welcome, Burnley were applauded off to reflect their efforts.

The Clarets looked like a side capable of winning games again and with all but Mark Robertson - capable of rising to most challenges - playing in recognised positions, Ternent looks to be developing a squad with the balance to recover from a dismal 1998. Mark Ford is one of those who should be looking ahead with greater expectations after a bleak last12 months and he did as much as any to give Burnley the whip hand before the break against a Walsall side neatly moulded from limited resources by Ray Graydon.

The best chances fell to Branch, still feeling his way back into first-team action.

There was nothing wrong, though, with the turn of pace or feint that took him clear into the Saddlers' box just before the half-hour when Pointon denied him his moment of glory.

Most of the excitement was reserved for a wide open second-half, however, which saw both sides chase maximum reward.

Branch turned provider with one near-post cross which Payton put just the wrong side of the post.

But despite their territorial advantage, it wasn't all Burnley as Walsall counter-attacked and posed a threat from corners.

Davis blocked an effort from Porter after he had been freed by Paul Simpson's ball over the top before another long ball caught out Burnley with Crichton coming to his side's rescue with an acrobatic tip over from Wrack. The Clarets were gradually building up a fresh head of steam as they sought the breakthrough that had eluded Payton when Walker's parry from a Ford shot had arrived too quickly at his feet to steer goalwards.

Cooke found the side netting following a Reid free-kick before Swan marked his introduction by flicking on for Armstrong to head over the top.

And then with just five minutes to go only the brilliance of Walker denied Burnley a badly-needed win.

The Walsall keeper went full length to turn away Swan's bottom-corner-bound header before recovering sufficiently to block Cooke's follow-up. There was still time for Swan and Cooke to be thwarted by a goalline clearance and the outside of a post as Walsall hung on.

But while a point may have seemed like scant reward for the Clarets, they should take comfort from the fact that the pieces of the jigsaw finally look like beginning to fit.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.