Morale low as the old enemy approach
BURNLEY, it has to be said, are in far from great shape morale-wise as Sunday's long-awaited first home top flight derby with Blackburn Rovers since the 60s draws near.
Even a quick glance as the fansite messageboards finds variations on the word "depressed" following what has been a grim time for the Clarets.
They had the right combination of fixtures to pull themselves clear of the relegation pack but this hasn't transpired, a hammer blow coming in the form of Wigan's injury time winner last Saturday.
But supporters need to take something of a reality check. It was always going to be a tough ask to retain Premiership status having come up through the play-offs last May.
An excellent start probably raised expectations a bit too high. There are no easy games in this league - as Portsmouth, for example, showed us.
That's a far cry from giving up though, and the hardest job Brian Laws will have is to raise heads and morale for the derby battle ahead.
I don't agree with the vitriol being thrown in Brian Laws's direction on some of the messageboards. He may not have been my or many other people's first choice but he took over in unenviable circumstances. If Burnley fans do not get behind their team and manager in a positive way, it will be curtains. As it is, they should keep battling.
When Burnley arrived at Ewood Park last October tails were still up and when Robbie Blake's screamer flew in to give Burnley the lead hopes, albeit short-lived, were high that the away day duck would be broken.
Morale may not be at its best on Sunday when Big Sam Allardyce and his squad arrive but we expect every player to give it his best shot.
POSSIBLY only one thing - or person, really - unites Burnley and Blackburn fans instantly.
There have been Burnley players who went on to play for Blackburn, including Adam Blacklaw, John Connelly and Marshall Burke. And Blackburn players who have gone on to play for Burnley include Kevin Hird, Lenny Johnrose and Andy Todd.
But Keith Newton is head and shoulders above the rest if fans views' on both sides of the East Lancs derby divide were taken into account.
For my money, he's head and shoulders over Ashley Cole or any of the other potential England 2010 World Cup full backs. Newton, who died in 1998, had been there and done that, in Sir Alf Ramsey's 1970 Mexico World Cup side, when he was an Everton player.
He started his career with Blackburn and ended it at Burnley. Able to defend either flank and make speedy forays forward, he preferred to pass the ball than hoof it. He was a class apart and I for one was surprised when he hung up his boots, even though he was 36 by then.
Keith was simply sheer quality throughout his career. Burnley and Rovers may not see his like again. Nor may England, if the current highly-paid crop are anything to go by!
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
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