Apologies for the late submission, apparently paid work is important !
Another cup game, more high hopes for WHU, when really other more pressing matters should be at the forefront of our minds.
It was a bloody cold Monday night, and fair play to the Burnley hordes who braved the journey. I shouldn’t be surprised though as last year they had witnessed one of the best games ever from a neutral perspective, with West Ham being 5-0 up and hanging on at the end to win 5-3, when they could have just as easily lost 5-6.
So onto the game, and at stake a place in the last 8 of the worlds most famous domestic cup competition. I was happy to see Der Hammer, Mr Hitzelsperger in the side for his competitive debut, and was hoping he would slip in the hole allowing Parker to command the midfield from a deeper position. I was not disappointed. DH looked like he had been there all season, always the mark of a quality player. And then almost on cue he pops up with a trademark screamer from some distance out after i must say some pretty poor defending. 1-0 WHU !
Burnley looked a lot like us, all pretty football with no end product, and a poor defence. Talking of defence, Reid was useless again and for no good reason fell over in our box and nearly gave the ball to the opposition with in Greenie to beat. 2nd div at best.
So half time comes and goes and the game starts again with no big changes, its all a bit open and a bit rubbish to be fair. THEN….. Carlton scores another of his now trademark,”how did that happen” goals (see Wolves and Brum at home). He is offside, takes a great pass from Noble, first touch great, second touch straight to the keeper, collides with the keeper, gets the bounce (hints of handball), swing his tree like leg while on the ground and nutmegs the defender for 2-0.
No doubt about the 3rd, a blinding ball and long range finish from Carlton. By this time the other clarets had all but given up, but continued playing it around well.
The forth was a Reid header. Well taken header from a corner, but has the downside of meaning he probably has a place until Upson is fit again (end of season – Yikes !).
4-0 up and cruising , but it wouldn’t be WHU without a comedy moment. This week brought to you By 2 England players (currently ranked in the top 7 in the world). With his front to our goal Wayne Bridge allowed a forward to pressure him all the way to our goal. This really exposed the fact the man has no right foot. When about 4 ft from Rob Green he taps it to him. The whole crowd and our keeper were a little surprised, but the outcome brought no astonishment. Greenie tries to clear, miss hits it, straight to a Burnley player, who bounces it onto his mates head and its 4-1.
This brought about memories of last year again, but young Freddie Sears came to the rescue to take a nice poachers goal to make it 5-1, game well and truly over.
Stoke in the next round. Prediction: Draw up there, win at home, day trip to Wembley in the Semi’s
Liverpool this Sunday and i have no idea what will happen. It completely depends on which teams turn up, for both clubs.
I have lowered my points prediction down to 36 to stay up, meaning we have to get 11 points from 11 games. So lets start with a least one this weekend.
Mrben09 