Chris Eagles - Man of the MatchThe Clarets had continued the good form of previous months into December, and there were high hopes of a fifth away win in the league, following on from victories over Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United.A glance at the current league table shows that an impressive forty points have already been accumulated during the first half of the Championship campaign, and at a rate of two per game, with 38 coming from the last 19 games, following a stuttering start. And so everyone of a Claret persuasion was keen to see if Burnley could for once maintain their early form into the second half of a campaign, something that had not really been achieved since the 1990/2000 promotion season.Today's game was also significant as Bristol City were the only team that we had not yet faced in the league, although this year's team have showed tremendous belief already and go into games fearing no-one.The squad had travelled in advance, which was fortunate for them considering the litany of traffic problems on the M6 and the M5. This made what should have been a relatively straightforward journey from East Lancashire to Avon somewhat more tricky, and certainly much more time-consuming than should have been the case. However, the ground was reached with time to spare and there was a reasonably healthy away following, later announced as 730, in one side of the Micra Wedlock Stand behind one of the goals.Owen Coyle was forced to make just one change to his starting eleven. A knock to Wade Elliott's foot, earlier in the week, meant that he wasn't even risked in the match-day squad of sixteen. Therefore, Michael Duff came back into the team, meaning that Burnley lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Jensen in goal, and a back four of Carlisle and Caldwell in the centre flanked by Jordan and Duff. Alexander played the holding role just in front of the back four with a midfield quartet of McCann and Gudjonsson in the middle of the park, and Blake and Eagles in the wider positions. Martin Paterson played the role of the lone striker, but with the hope that Eagles and Blake would push on and support him. Bristol City had a couple of players missing, particularly in defensive positions and so former Burnley loanee Bradley Orr was recalled to their team. He had previously been frozen out after refusing to sign a new contract, but the hatchet was temporarily buried for today.The first half was no real indication of what was to come later in the game, with very little action to speak of during the first forty minutes. The opening exchanges were more reminiscent of a game of chess than a game of football, with both teams perhaps being rather too respectful of each other. The chances that did come along were relatively long range speculative shots from both teams, none of which amounted to very much at all.However, the game began to come to life in the final five minutes of the first period. There were in fact more chances in the final five minutes of the half than there had been in the previous forty. A couple of minutes before the break, Robbie Blake managed a rare shot on target from about 25 yards, and this was quickly followed by an attack from the hosts, which Stern John could only head wide. The best move of the half was right at the very end when Robbie Blake played through Chris McCann who took the ball forward, and then fed Martin Paterson, but he was only able to shoot wide.Referee Russell Booth, who was not having to officiate a particularly difficult or controversial game, then made a rare decision, blowing his whistle to end the half. Throughout the game he did seem to be almost totally reluctant to make any decisions, something that would become even more apparent in the second period. Apparently, it was his first game in the middle this season, and perhaps that showed.The second half began in the same vein as the final five minutes of the first half, with both teams seemingly finding extra impetus and showing much more ambition in the final third. Just six minutes into the second half Stern John was challenged by Clarke Carlisle and fell to the floor in the penalty area. In all honesty, it did look like a penalty, but once again it appeared that referee Booth was not going to give the decision. However, his assistant belatedly flagged for a foul and a penalty it was. Although Brian Jensen dived the right way, Nick Maynard slotted the ball right in the left corner and City had taken the lead.In seasons gone by, a goal deficit and a vociferous home following have not been particularly conducive to a Burnley fightback. This season's squad are, however, made of sterner stuff and took just five minutes to equalise. Even before that, Chris McCann had an excellent opportunity but was only able to toe-poke a Chris Eagles cross wide of the post.It was once again the introduction of a substitute, this time Steven Thompson, that was to pay dividends, and provide an equaliser. Almost immediately, Thompson's ball down the wing was handled, and the resultant free-kick was floated to the far post by Chris Eagles. Clarke Carlisle cushioned header back across goal allowed Martin Paterson to head home from just three yards out, to the delight of the travelling Clarets fans at that end of the ground.Bristol City remained on the offensive and were stunned when a shot on goal was deflected, seemingly for a clear-cut corner, only for a goal kick to be given. Then Lee Trundle, who was a half-time substitute for the visitors and was clearly keen to make an impression, turned to shoot just after the hour but thankfully the ball went a few feet wide of goal.Following a through ball to Martin Paterson, and a challenge on Basso in the Bristol City goal, the 'keeper went down clutching his face. This was seemingly a mystery to everyone as Paterson had every right to go for the ball, and although there may have been some slight contact this was nowhere near the Brazilian's head. Thankfully the referee was not in the mood for making decisions and nothing more came of it, but play-acting by footballers does needs to be addressed by the authorities.Then it was Burnley's turn to carve out yet another shot on goal. A good build up between Duff and Paterson found the ever lively Chris Eagles whose shot was deflected at close range. Basso in the City goal was seemingly stranded, going the wrong way, but put out a hand to make a sensational save. Shortly after that, the quick-thinking Graham Alexander fired a long range shot on target from forty yards out as Basso had come out of his area and failed to clear properly, but there wasn't quite enough power on it and the City 'keeper was able to collect.The winner came with less than twelve minutes on the clock when yet another Burnley attack resulted in Martin Paterson making space for himself on the left. He managed to cut back inside to centre the ball for Steven Thompson who blasted home from close range and completed the fightback. This was the twelfth occasion so far this season that a Burnley substitute has come on and scored, which is an indication of the strength of the squad in attacking positions and also the desire of those players on the fringes to impress.There was even time after that for yet another long range Alexander effort, which was deflected wide. The decision? You guessed it: a goal kick! Bristol City had one more chance to equalise and it was again Lee Trundle who turned on the edge of the box and tried to lob Jensen. The Dane was equal to it and palmed the ball over for a corner.Burnley managed to do what they failed to do at the Liberty Stadium earlier in the season and played 'keep ball' for the three minutes of added time before the final whistle blew for a deserved victory.The man of the match decision is never easy when the team put in a good all-round performance. Despite solid displays at the back from Clarke Carlisle and Steven Caldwell, and Graham Alexander just in front, and also Martin Paterson having another good game up front, it was the class of Chris Eagles, resplendent in his day-glo green boots, who gets the nod from me.Let us hope for yet more Christmas cheer from Coyle's classy Clarets during the remainder of the festive season and into 2009.

Martin Paterson - put the Clarets 1-0 upNervous at the beginning, probably so all the way through, elated with a quarter of an hour gone, delighted at half time, devastated in the first period of the second half, and yet so, so proud at the final whistle despite the incredible and hardly deserved 4-1 scoreline.That was the same result as we suffered on the opening day of the season at Sheffield Wednesday and, in years to come, people will look at those two scores and compare the two games. But it has to be placed on record that these two games couldn't be further apart.In August we were quite simply outplayed in every department by a Sheffield Wednesday side that were just too good for us on the day. That 4-1 result might have even flattered us we were so much second best.That was not the case at White Hart Lane. We led for around half an hour of the game, we were without a shadow of a doubt the best side throughout the first half and I'm still trying to understand just how we came to lose by that scoreline.That scoreline is how we have to remember the game I suppose at the end of the day, that result will count against us, but I don't think I'll ever stop reliving that first half after a showing that was as good as anything we've seen in this incredible season, and I thought we wouldn't better Sheffield United.I missed the 1993 game at Spurs and so this was my first visit since January 1983 and that incredible night when we won by the same score of 4-1. I was in the same part of the ground last night although I have to say White Hart Lane does look a lot different than it did then.It was colder too, and I can't recall the last time I was so cold at a game (maybe a reserve game against Wrexham about three years ago played at Buckley). I can't even begin to think how those Burnley topless Burnley fans were feeling.With a vicar to my left and the Belfast section of Clarets Mad to my right, and he'll also be reporting on the game, we watched the warm up as the team news reached us. There was no surprise to see Stephen Jordan return after suspension and there was good news that Chris McCann was fit enough to start and he came in for the cup tied Steven Thompson who must still be wondering why on earth he played for Cardiff against Bournemouth in this competition last August.Some £16 million striker came out ahead of kick off just before the teams and when Graham Alexander led out the Clarets I was ready for my fourth semi-final in this competition and feeling just as nervous as I was for the previous three, if not more so.We started well, no we didn't we started really well. We took the game to Spurs and my word what a start. Little was seen of the home side as the Clarets pressed forward with a five man midfield. But this was a positive line up with players getting forwards and attacking the Spurs back line.Spurs did have one attack although David Bentley brought it to an end as he made a bit of a mess of his shot which delighted the visiting fans who were quick to remind him of his previous club. That's fine lads, but stick to that; we really don't want any more Drogba incidents.They were trying to get the ball down the right for Aaron Lennon who was superbly played by Jordan all night, and it was a move down the right that led to them winning a throw in deep in Burnley territory.Our last Carling Cup goal, the second against Arsenal, came from a throw in, and when Joey Gudjonsson nipped in to nick the ball after Jordan had again halted them there was soon to be another goal.Joey got it forward to McCann who played a lovely one-two with Robbie Blake before sweeping the ball across to the right for Alexander who in turn played it forward for Chris Eagles.Eagles cleverly went between Bentley and Gareth Bale, looked up, saw Martin Paterson and got his cross to him at the far post. Pato was there completely unmarked to tap into the net from close range.We were in front, and how we deserved it, but at this point I was expecting to have to do some defending. It didn't happen. The central midfield three, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson and Chris McCann, were running the show with Eagles and Robbie causing them plenty of problems as they got up to support Pato.If another goal came then surely it would be us who got it, and we almost did with one effort from Robbie when he headed an Eagles cross from the right just wide of the far post.Just on the half hour we were forced into a substitution and for me it proved crucial. Joey Gudjonsson went down with what could have been a hamstring problem. He went straight off to be replaced by Kevin McDonald who himself was returning from injury.We got to half time and were still very much the better side. The lead could have been more than one but I think we were all happy to be in front and revelling in what really had been a fantastic 45 minutes from our team.That I'm afraid was as good as it got and in the third quarter the game was turned on its head as Spurs hit us for four. The first of them came just over a minute into the second half from a right wing corner. Clarke Carlisle lost Michael Dawson and he headed home although it went right above Pato on the line.Five minutes later and Brian Jensen didn't deal with a shot form Jamie O'Hara and we were behind. It was a disappointing effort from the Beast and that's something I've written a lot over the years. But not this season, and I'm certainly not going to be pointing any fingers. Let's face it, but for him we might not have even been in this game.All credit to us, we came storming back and twice came perilously close to equalising. Firstly Pato just failed to get a shot in but the ball fell to Robbie who all but set up McCann before they hurriedly cleared.Then Robbie received a free kick and from the edge of the box curled a shot that went literally inches wide of the post. This scoreline of 2-1 down just wasn't fair, but then two more goals made it look ridiculous. Roman Pavlyuchenko beat Carlisle on the edge of the box and shot into the corner and then Michael Duff headed a corner into his own net.There were 22 minutes to go and now I was worried that this could be a massive score against us. It wasn't, they didn't get another, and had the officials been alert enough they might have spotted a clear penalty at the end of stoppage time for a shirt pull.But it wasn't to be and we now have to go into the second leg 4-1 down leaving us with only the slightest of chances of making Wembley. I don't think even the most optimistic of Burnley fans would be prepared to put too much on us making it.How do we look back at this one? Owen Coyle says the first half can be forgotten because of the errors that caused us to concede the four goals. Not for me. It is easy to point the fingers at Carlisle, Jensen and Duff, but surely we can all take great pride in that first half.That's what I'm taking from this game, and for those who want to be critical of the way our Carling Cup run virtually came to an end, just remember Fulham, just remember Chelsea, just remember Arsenal and remember that first half against Spurs.Then, get down to the Turf for the second leg and give the lads the fantastic support they deserve for giving us this great cup run. The last time we got to a semi-final we beat Spurs 4-1 to get there. Somehow they got their own back last night. So what, we can be proud of what our players have given us.The teams were;Spurs: Heurelho Gomes, Vedran Corluka, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson, Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Didier Zokora, Luka Modric, David Bentley (Jamie O'Hara 45), Fraizer Campbell, Roman Pavlyuchenko. Subs not used: Ben Alnwick, Ricardo Rocha, Chris Gunter, Adel Taarabt, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Giaovani Dos Santos.Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Stephen Jordan, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson (Kevin McDonald 30), Chris McCann, Robbie Blake (Jay Rodriguez 75), Martin Paterson (Ade Akinbiyi 86). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Christian Kalvenes, Alan Mahon, Alex MacDonald.Yellow cards: Stephen Jordan, Michael Duff.Referee: Martin Atkinson (Leeds).Attendance: 31,377.

Stephen Jordan - man of the matchIt really was drab stuff from the Clarets who, according to the official statistics, couldn't even muster one shot on target in the ninety minutes. The Gods were against us again in the shape of red cards but we simply couldn't complain about the performance after coming second best to a decidedly ordinary looking Swansea.There was a surprise ahead of kick off with the inclusion of Joey Gudjonsson. Joey came off after half an hour in the defeat at Spurs with a hamstring injury and manager Owen Coyle said: "Joey has no chance for Saturday," and even hinted that it could be a four to six week absence for the Icelandic midfielder.The only change saw captain Steven Caldwell return from suspension and that meant Clarke Carlisle was left out after a recent run that has cost us a number of goals, Michael Duff continuing in the centre of defence.Apart from one centre half for another it was the same team, but it was a different line up with Wade Elliott back on the right, Chris Eagles shifted to the left and this time Robbie Blake taking up a role in the centre of the pitch. Whether he was playing in midfield or up alongside Martin Paterson I was never able to quite work out.As we kicked off we'd lost our place in the play off places. Both Sheffield United and Preston (winners in the afternoon) had gone above us. It could have been eighth but Crystal Palace's game at Plymouth was called off. The good news though was, with Cardiff's game also falling victim to the weather, a win would take us up to fourth place.Now it was cold at White Hart Lane on Tuesday, and I'm not sure it was any warmer up in the Longside upper for this one. We needed the sort of start we'd had at Spurs, you never do feel quite so cold then.Unfortunately we didn't get it. Swansea dominated the early possession and we were thankful that they weren't able to create much in terms of goal scoring opportunities. Twice Brian Jensen had to be alert to come out and smother balls, but that was about it, although we just couldn't get the ball.When we did we were careless in possession and that was the pattern for the first quarter of the game. Then, for a few minutes at least, we came to life and created two very good chances for ourselves.Firstly, Elliott, now on the left, got the ball to Chris McCann down the left. He played it for Paterson and when the striker got in a good cross it was McCann on the end of it. His header went wide but he was clearly appealing for a penalty. At the very least it was a corner, but a goal kick was given.Within a couple of minutes Blake got the ball out to Eagles on the right and his excellent cross just eluded the onrushing Paterson. We looked as though we might just be getting into our stride but almost immediately the afternoon got a lot more difficult for us.Swansea got the ball up to Jason Scotland and as he moved into the box he went down under a challenge from Michael Duff. Referee Oliver immediately pointed to the spot and couldn't wait to wave the red card.It looked a good tackle from my vantage point, and so it was, but Oliver has given the penalty for a shirt tug (the one that was mainly outside the box). You can't argue with the red card but it shows the lack of consistency, and I believe nine out of every ten referees would not have even considered it a foul.We'd got the wrong referee, and Oliver is clearly an attention seeker, on the wrong day. We were down to ten men and Scotland made no mistake from the penalty spot. For the seventh time this season we were down to ten men and for the third time for more than half of the game.We reshuffled with Graham Alexander partnering Caldwell in the centre and Elliott dropping to right back. Duff will miss the cup replay with QPR and we hadn't been playing much longer when Elliott earned himself a one match ban (he'll miss the Preston game) after getting the most ridiculous of yellow cards.We got to half time just the one goal behind, and really we could have no complaints. We'd come up against a side that were passing the ball better than us, and a side that had, like Doncaster a few weeks ago, reduced the pace of the game which always makes it difficult for us.For the most part of the second half the football was as dull as ditchwater. Swansea were content enough with their lead and were comfortable in possession, we just struggled. It looked to all intents and purposes that it would end 1-0 and we'd all be frozen to death.It was dire stuff, but in the last ten minutes it started to come to life. Finally I dared to suggest there might be another goal in it, and we were pressing them. Unfortunately it came at the other end. They got the better of Elliott down the flank and the cross found Scotland who rifled in his second and it was game over.Paterson latched on to a pass from Alex MacDonald, on as a sub, to shoot just over and then in stoppage time had a shot deflected onto the post. That I'm afraid was as close as we came to a goal all day.We could have no complaints at the result, we were second best on the day, and that's now three league defeats in a row for the first time in just about two years. Given the way we'd played at Spurs, particularly in the first half, this was hard to believe, but it simply wasn't good enough and there is going to have to be a big improvement in the coming weeks if we want to get back into that top six and battle for a play off place.Stephen Jordan picked up my vote as man of the match, but there were few candidates in all honesty. We have to be better than this.The teams were;Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson (Alex MacDonald 86), Chris McCann, Chris Eagles, Robbie Blake (Steven Thompson 56), Martin Paterson. Subs not used: Diego Penny, Clarke Carlisle, Alan Mahon.Yellow Cards: Wade Elliott.Red Cards: Michael Duff.Swansea: Dorus de Vries, Angel Rangel, Gary Monk, Ashley Williams, Alan Tate, Joe Allen (Nathan Dyer 64), Darren Pratley, Leon Britton, Jordi Gomez (Gorki Pintado 87), Mark Gower, Jason Scotland. Subs not used: Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Albert Serran, Tom Butler.Yellow Cards: Leon Britton.Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).Attendance: 13,740.

Position
DoB
Squad
Apps
Goals
Statistics
Penny, Diego
Goal
22 Apr 1984
1
1
0
Season Career
Alexander, Graham
Defence
10 Oct 1971
2
37
5
Season Career
Kalvenes, Christian
Defence
08 Mar 1977
3
9 (+1)
0
Season Career
Duff, Michael
Defence
11 Jan 1979
4
22 (+3)
1
Season Career
Carlisle, Clarke
Defence
14 Oct 1979
5
31
0
Season Career
Caldwell, Steven
Defence
12 Sep 1980
6
33
1
Season Career
McDonald, Kevin
Midfield
04 Nov 1988
7
10 (+10)
3
Season Career
Gudjonsson, Joey
Midfield
25 May 1980
8
26 (+10)
4
Season Career
Akinbiyi, Ade
Forward
10 Oct 1974
9
1 (+14)
1
Season Career
Paterson, Martin
Forward
10 May 1987
10
31 (+3)
15
Season Career
Elliott, Wade
Midfield
14 Dec 1978
11
32 (+1)
1
Season Career
Jensen, Brian
Goal
08 Jun 1975
12
36
0
Season Career
McCann, Chris
Midfield
21 Jul 1987
16
34
5
Season Career
Kiraly, Gabor
Goal
01 Apr 1976
17
0
0
Season Career
Mahon, Alan
Midfield
04 Apr 1978
18
0 (+13)
1
Season Career
Rodriguez, Jay
Forward
29 Jul 1989
19
0 (+14)
3
Season Career
Blake, Robbie
Forward
04 Mar 1976
20
23 (+14)
6
Season Career
Berisha, Besart
Forward
29 Jul 1985
22
0
0
Season Career
Jordan, Stephen
Defence
06 Mar 1982
23
30 (+1)
0
Season Career
Kay, Adam
Midfield
05 Mar 1990
25
0
0
Season Career
van der Schaaf, Remco
Midfield
28 Feb 1979
26
1
0
Season Career
MacDonald, Alex
Forward
14 Apr 1990
27
0 (+4)
0
Season Career
Thompson, Steven
Forward
14 Oct 1978
30
18 (+7)
4
Season Career
Eagles, Chris
Midfield
19 Nov 1985
33
27 (+7)
5
Season Career

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FootyMAD > Burnley MAD > Clarets Latest > Match Reports > Down but unbelievably proud


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Down but unbelievably proud by Tony ScholesBurnley 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2

The simple truth is that Burnley are out of the Carling Cup having been knocked out by a 6-4 aggregate against Tottenham in the two legged semi-final, but that hardly begins to tell the story of a gut wrenching night full of pride and passion.

Robbie Blake - Man of the Match performance
I dared to headline my report 'Mixed Emotions' after the first leg at White Hart Lane, but that was nothing compared to last night when we had Wembley snatched, and so undeservedly snatched, from our grasp with the clock virtually run down.With away goals counting double, one goal against took us from a winning position to a losing position and momentarily silenced three sides of Turf Moor like I can never remember before. Not for long though as the home fans again rose to our fantastic team and gave them an amazing send off as an embarrassed looking Spurs left ready to prepare for the final.Owen Coyle had said we needed to climb Everest having lost the first leg 4-1, but we did climb it in a sensational performance that saw the Premier League side cut down and when Mark Halsey blew his final whistle with the score 3-0 it meant another bout of extra time.We'd reached the 118th minute when disaster struck with a goal from Roman Pavlyuchenko at the cricket field end. By then I was dreaming of a day out at Wembley and I'm still finding it hard to take that the dream was so cruelly taken away.But let no one take away what in truth was the most fantastic of nights for Burnley Football Club in every other way and I can't think for one minute that any home supporter left the ground with anything but delight and pride at the way we played even through that incredible disappointment.It was a real Burnley night. For Arsenal we had the snow, this time after a bitterly cold day we were suddenly hit by heavy rain. It really wouldn't be Burnley would it if the weather was decent?Sky had been building up the game during the day with interviews from Stephen Jordan, Owen Coyle and Paul Fletcher. But they weren't giving us any sort of chance of turning round a three goal deficit.Neither was I to be honest. I said during the day that I was going to wipe out the first leg, treat it as a different game and hope to turn in a good performance and hopefully a win. Had we done that and won, say 1-0, I would have been more than happy with that.I got that all wrong, but I did get the team right. It was the same eleven as had started at White Hart Lane and the bench picked itself from the remaining players. Our captain Steven Caldwell, missing again through suspension, took his seat in the claptrappers' box with Jeff Stelling. Unbelievable Skip.Spurs had a strong side out although there was no place for Sandra Redknapp despite her abilities as a striker. There again there was no place either for Darren Bent.Playing towards the cricket field end we nearly got an early lead with a bizarre own goal and it was one that certainly caught out Premier League referee Mark Halsey. Defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto got a ball back to goalkeeper Ben Alnwick horribly wrong and the former Sunderland stopper did well to keep it out.But Halsey should surely have blown for a free kick for handling the back pass, and what action should he have taken against the goalkeeper therefore for illegally preventing a goal scoring opportunity?For a while it was evenly balanced in horrendous conditions but the Clarets always looked the more likely and just over ten minutes from half time we got the goal we so needed. A foul on Martin Paterson by Jonathan Woodgate some 30 yards out and to the right of goal gave us a free kick.Wise words to my right suggested Robbie Blake might just try to curl one round the outside of a two man wall just as he'd done against Gillingham in 2003/04. It seemed a ridiculous notion to me, he was too far out and too wide, but how on earth could I doubt Robbie's ability from a free kick. He did just that as Alnwick moved towards his right and he gave him no chance as he curled it home.That really put us in the ascendancy for the rest of the half but there was some bad news when Stephen Jordan was forced off with an injury. Jordan has been in such good form recently and this was a blow although thankfully Christian Kalvenes was able to come on in a straight swap.Half time saw the return of Ralph Coates on the Turf Moor pitch, and I reckon he must have been impressed with what he'd seen of his first club so far in this tie. He'd seen nothing yet.I thought Spurs had their best spell of the night just after the break. They did get forward and they did have a couple of half chances. The overpriced Gareth Bale missed a good chance whilst Luka Modric and Roman Pavlyuchenko both had opportunities.But it was by no means one way and with the most amazing Turf Moor crowd behind us we came storming back into the game and started to put them under some pressure. Yet it was a Spurs attack that led to the second goal.Pavlyuchenko got down the left and crossed but Kalvenes was first there to get the ball away to Wade Elliott deep in his own half. Wade carried the ball forward, looked right and left and eventually played the ball out to Robbie on the left hand side.Robbie moved to the edge of the box and then simply tormented both Chris Gunter and David Bentley. He turned inside them, then outside, back in before eventually beating them on the outside before crossing low across the six yard box. It was just asking for McCann to hit it home and he did just that.It was simply brilliant stuff from Robbie who'd now scored one and created one. I can't quite remember when the Turf was last like this but the noise coming from the stands now was incredible. People were on their feet everywhere as we went in search of a third goal that would turn the tie on its head.With nine minutes to go Coyle made a switch. He took off Joey Gudjonsson, who had given us a simply superb performance, but he wanted to get an extra forward on and it was Jay Rodriguez.Now Jay scored the winner in an earlier round against Fulham and only a week earlier scored the winner in the FA Cup against QPR, both times after coming on as a substitute. Maybe he could do it again, you could almost believe it.Less than three minutes to go and Pavlyuchenko fouled Wade out on the left touchline. Robbie hit the free kick into the box, Alnwick failed to deal with it and Jay hit a quick left foot volley in.We'd done it, we'd climbed Everest. We'd turned a three goal deficit round. And when the final whistle blew Spurs were thankful for it was going into an extra half hour. Another few minutes and I really think we might have seen them off.The first half of extra time was without major incident. In the second half Spurs were just getting a bit too much of the ball for my liking but they weren't really threatening. There was no doubt that our lads were tiring but they were sticking to their tasks manfully and looked comfortable."We're less than five minutes away from a major cup final," I heard from a fan close by and I really thought we were going to make it. Then with just over two minutes of extra time to go came the goal from Pavlyuchenko.He got on to a low cross from the left and although Brian Jensen got a hand to the low shot he couldn't prevent it from going in. It was like being stabbed with a sharp knife. I slumped quietly into my seat unable to take it in.We really didn't deserve it and there's no way it can be explained. We'd cruelly had it all snatched from our grasp. Spurs added another through Defoe but we can forget that one, we'd gone and it mattered not.By the time the final whistle blew our fans were back on their feet giving the players the sort of reception they deserved. Those players, like us, looked stunned and gutted.We'd given everything we had and it would be wrong to say it wasn't good enough. It was more than good enough and looking back at the two games you really have to wonder how the hell we've gone out. But we have and we have to pick ourselves up and get on with the FA Cup campaign and the Championship.We'd heroes all over the pitch last night and there were many players whose performances warranted winning the man of the match. Under normal circumstances I might well have gone for Joey. Unfortunately there can only be one and it just has to be the little magician Robbie Blake. What a performance he gave us.Do you remember that 2-0 win at Bury back in August? At the time it helped us get over the opening day defeat at Sheffield Wednesday and seemed to be nothing more. We never thought it would lead to this, a cup run that we'll all remember for the rest of our lives.We've got to remember it. We've got to remember all the wonderful highs. Jay's goal against Fulham, Ade's against Chelsea and then the remarkable penalty shoot out and the heroics of Brian Jensen. The goals from Kevin McDonald and the unbelievable goalkeeping of the Beast against Arsenal. And even the sausages. It will help us get over last night and get us ready for more games to come.How do you describe it all? I know how I feel. I'm down, really down today, but I'm also unbelievably proud of what we've achieved. It's been a brilliant run - thanks Burnley.The teams were;Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Stephen Jordan (Christian Kalvenes 39), Joey Gudjonsson (Jay Rodriguez 81), Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Martin Paterson (Ade Akinbiyi 100). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Alan Mahon, Kevin McDonald, Alex MacDonald.Yellow Cards: Chris McCann, Michael Duff.Tottenham: Ben Alnwick, Chris Gunter (Ade Taarabt 95), Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, David Bentley, Didier Zokora, Luka Modric (Roman Pavlyuchenko 65), Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O'Hara (Gareth Bale 62), Jermain Defoe. Subs not used: Cesar Sanchez, Ricardo Rocha, Giovani Dos Santos, Fraizer Campbell.Yellow Cards: David Bentley.Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).Attendance: 19,533.

Carling League Cup, Wednesday, 21st January 2009 @ 19:45; Turf Moor



Blake 34McCann 73Rodriguez 88

Pavlyuchenko 118Defoe 120
First Leg: 1-4 Aggregate: 4-6

Starting Line-ups
12
Jensen

2
Alexander

5
Carlisle

4
Duff

23
Jordan (Kalvenes 39)

16
McCann

8
Gudjonsson (Rodriguez 81)

11
Elliott

33
Eagles

20
Blake

10
Paterson (Akinbiyi 100)

Substitutes
1
Penny

3
Kalvenes (Jordan 39)

27
MacDonald

7
McDonald

18
Mahon

9
Akinbiyi (Paterson 100)

19
Rodriguez (Gudjonsson 81)

10
Goal Attempts
22
4
On Target
15
6
Off Target
7
0
Hit Woodwork
0
3
Offsides
4
8
Corners
4
19
Fouls
7
Starting Line-ups
27
Alnwick

39
Woodgate

32
Assou-Ekotto

16
Gunter (Taarabt 95)

20
Dawson

4
Zokora

24
O'Hara (Bale 62)

5
Bentley

14
Modric (Pavlyuchenko 65)

6
Huddlestone

25
Defoe

Substitutes
21
Sanchez

33
Rocha

3
Bale (O'Hara 62)

19
Taarabt (Gunter 95)

17
Dos Santos

18
Campbell

9
Pavlyuchenko (Modric 65)

Referee
M Halsey, Lancashire
Attendance
19533
Additional information
After Extra Time - Tottenham win 6-4 on aggregate
Burnley Cards
McCann
38
unsporting behaviour
Duff
69
unsporting behaviour
Tottenham H. Cards
Bentley
21
unsporting behaviour

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