4:00pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Stephen Cummings
NO single week defines the course of any team’s season. But it is difficult to escape the feeling that Burnley Football Club’s fate has been all but sealed by events of the last seven days.
Three points would have kept the Clarets in touch and four would have provided grounds for optimism, while back-to-back wins would have propelled Burnley into the lower reaches of mid-table with a five-point cushion.
As it is, a return of one point has left them right in the mire.
On the face of it, there is still all to play for.
The Clarets are only three points shy of safety. There are 24 points up for grabs.
And Burnley have yet to play the likes of Wigan, Blackburn, Sunderland and Hull.
But appearances can be deceptive.
The week just gone has to rank as the most dismal, dispiriting and depressing of the campaign thus far.
In the space of four days, two fairly modest teams pitched up at Turf Moor and the Clarets were unable to dispatch either of them.
On Wednesday evening obdurate, awkward Stoke came and, to invoke Jose Mourinho’s famous phrase, ‘parked the bus’.
Having fallen behind from one of Rory Delap’s trademark fairground attraction throw-ins, Burnley lacked the wit or imagination to break down their opponents.
Even when it was evident that hopeful punts would be gobbled up by City’s centre halves, the Clarets persisted with the tactic.
When they did produce a few seconds of football, they scored.
Against Wolves, Burnley at least got it down and tried to move it about.
Yet once again, dark slapstick defending was to prove their undoing, the normally reliable Tyrone Mears attempting a back header that was never on.
Nor was Turf Moor massively impressed with the withdrawal of Chris Eagles when chasing the game – although to be fair to the manager, Robbie Blake produced a productive and influential cameo.
In light of events of the last few days, it is difficult to see any hopeful signs.
The flowing pass and move game promoted by the previous incumbent is fast becoming a thing of the past, with Burnley only producing quality in fractured fits and starts.
It is hard to see where the next success is coming from.
Brian Laws remains positive, but he is paid to do so.
Yet after the last week, even he must sense that it is fast approaching chucking out time in the last chance saloon.
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