Burnley 0 Foxes 1
Report by Graham Tracey
Most of our noisy travelling fans were probably not alive the last time we won 4 top flight games in a row back in 1966, but that was the stand-out statistic from an unspectacular but physically and mentally strong performance on Saturday.
Celebrations from fans and players at full time were ebullient, but eyes quickly turned to the league table and the reality is that the winning streak, just like the 5 against Man United, will still count for nothing unless we can pick up definitely one bur probably two more wins from our final 5 games. It’s the hope that kills you, as they say in relegation Large Hadron Colliders.
Burnley was my first ever away game back in 1980, and half a lifetime later I can still remember some things about that day, and the wooden seats are still there. I doubt we have played a more important game there, and as I work nearly in an office full of Clarets season ticket holders I had not been able to escape the tension all week.
There was a good effort by our club, handing out Foxes Never Quit t-shirts and £5 vouchers for food and drink in the ground. The weather was cooler than it had been for a while, and there was a cup tie atmosphere as things would look bleak indeed for the loser.
Pearson picked a side that looked physically strong, with the intimidating back three of Morgan, Huth and Wasileski. Nugent was not passed fit, much to the relief of Burnley fans who had virtually asked me for hourly updates all week, given his record against them. Schlupp was injured so Konchesky played left wing back, and with King and Drinkwater starting the team had some feel of last season about it.
Both defences were on top throughout the first half, although we looked the better side, and defensively the strongest we’ve looked all season (although bear in mind Burnley hadn’t scored for 4 games). Tackling was hard but fair, and Schmeichel reacted well to block a hooked shot from a corner in the only true goalmouth action at either end. No one was getting more than a single touch in midfield, but King and Drinkwater were tough in the tackle and Cambiasso was managing to move the ball on to the good effect.
The lesser spotted Albrighton (as he was superbly described on here recently) was our most lively attacking player, his ability to put in a cross on the run without having to fully beat his man being a dangerous weapon, but although Vardy was also a jack in the box, we could not create too much, as Burnley’s centre halves stood firm.
I was pleased to make it to the break with a clean sheet, and it looked like a single goal might clinch either way. Burnley had a good spell into the second half, and Ulloa had to head another goalbound header over our own bar.
Then on the hour mark, a minute to rival the disastrous Knockaert penalty / Deeney goal in the Watford play-off happened again, but this time in reverse. Ings came to life, making room to test Schmeichel with a powerful drive which the Dane did well to beat away, but Konchesky showed poor awareness and in dithering over the rebound brought down an onrushing attacker for a clear penalty.
The goal-shy regular spot kick man Ings did not take the ball, and instead Taylor, returning from a lengthy injury, took responsibility. Despite his experience, his kick hit the outside of the post to huge relief in our end. Taylor sank to his knees, head in hand, and their whole team must have switched off as Albrighton broke down the right and sent a low cross right into the corridor of uncertainty between keeper and back four. Duff tried to intercept it but it looped over Heaton, and although he got a hand to it on the line, Vardy was there to bundle home a 0 yard screamer. It had all happened in a crucial 59 seconds.
Although Burnley kept going, I think their players and fans felt the game – and their season – was up. We made some changes in the cause of fresh legs, and Kramaric, Vardy and James (the latter forcing a good save) had late chances to seal it. There was always going to be one big scare, and it arrived when De Laet misjudged a diagonal ball, and Huth deflected the resulting cross towards our goal, but Schmeichel showed great agility and body strength to adjust and claw it away.
My take on things as it stands now is that we can discount QPR and Burnley and its one from 4 (or maybe 5 if we can beat Newcastle next week). Home games are great and we can all play our part in them, but it’s the confidence evident in the players that represents our greatest hope. The position is tense, but I’d have settled for being here at the start of the season, and as fans and players we have to back ourselves to do what we need to do over the final 5 games.
FOXES: Schmeichel 9, Huth 9, Morgan 9, Wasilewski 8, Konchesky 6, King 7, Drinkwater 7, Cambiasso 8, Albrighton 9, Ulloa 7, Vardy 9, subs: Kramaric 6, De Laet 6, James 7
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation