A turf Moor round-up

Will it be another dose of the yellow peril?

THERE could be a theme colour for today's home meeting with Ipswich - yellow!

For the third time this campaign the Clarets will be marshalled by the Football League's own version of the yellow peril - Birmingham referee Andy Hall.

We cannot expect a game without a good number of cards, it is just the way Hall referees games. His 18 games this season have seen 90 yellow cards handed out, with 42 to home players and 48 to away players.

To add to that Hall has dished out an impressive seven red cards.

And Clarets fans can be sure they will not be disappointed.

Even if there was a flood, blizzard or nuclear attack there would be no danger of the game being called off with Hall in charge.

When he allowed the Portsmouth v Leicester game to go ahead recently at a flooded Fratton Park it came as no surprise to those Burnley fans who witnessed the farce he allowed to take place at Macclesfield in 1998.

Already this season the Clarets have come across Hall at away games - the 2-1 win at Derby and the 0-0 draw at Rotherham - and on both occasions he has seen fit to get his yellow card out on numerous occasions.

The tally was six times at Derby and seven times at Rotherham, including the booking of Gareth Taylor at Millmoor after six seconds.

Little by little should be the tune

WHILE milling around Turf Moor after training on Thursday, a jovial Glen Little was spotted reading his manager's new book.

Not only that, he was walking along, laughing and singing a range of Oasis songs.

Why? Well, you might well ask, but there was a rather interesting photograph which the Clarets winger pointed out.

Stan Ternent, in his playing days at Burnley, looking every inch a 1960s Liam Gallagher.

So the gathered members of the Press were treated to a few renditions of Wonderwall and Roll With It.

But you'd better check with Mr Little if he was in tune or not.

Padiham predator v The Hot Chilean

SPEAKING of lookalikes, has anyone else noticed the startling similarity between Andy Payton and Newcastle Clarence Acuna now that the Chilean has had a haircut.

At 5ft 9ins, Payton is just one inch smaller than Acuna and, as far as I'm aware, the two have never been seen in the same place, at the same time.

Spot kick call still a point for debate

THE penalty decision at Grimsby last weekend, which got the ball rolling for the Mariners to force a replay in the FA Cup clash, is still the subject of much debate at Turf Moor.

Graham Branch was discussing the issue earlier in the week and still could not believe how referee Graham Laws saw fit to point to the spot after Stuart Campbell went down in the area.

"I think the penalty was very dubious," said Branch.

"We watched it the day after on the video and the gaffer couldn't believe it. The referee said Macca (Mark McGregor) was tugging his shirt but there was no way the referee could see from where he was standing.

"Once they scored their backs just went straight up and we knew it was going to be a tough game, but we've got another chance here and hopefully we'll do what's right and give them a good stuffing."

Bring on the Storks says Stan

STAN Ternent admitted in Thursday's press conference he would prefer to play against more local opposition as his side bid to cope with a glut of injuries and suspensions.

The Clarets' manager was discussing how Ipswich are a good football side and added: "I'd rather be playing Padiham if you're talking about winning a game, with all respect to Padiham."

I wonder if Storks boss Graham Howarth would feel the same way?

Travel times

BURNLEY Football Supporters Club travel times for the Clarets' trip to Coventry on February 8, are:

Depart: Colne Bus Station, 10am; Nelson bus station, 10.10am; Queensgate 10.20am; Turf Moor 10.30am; Tim Bobbin 10.40am; Rawtenstall 10.55am. Prices are £12 non-members, £10 members, £9 concessions. All bookings should be made to Fraser Eagle, Accrington on (01254) 231100 (daytime) or Yvonne Hudson (01282) 696947 (evenings).