Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

3 January 2004

Ah. The FA Cup and all the glorious magic synonymous with it. A quick look through Town's record in the competition since we returned to the first division and you'd think Town hadn't learnt a simple party trick in the competition, let alone how to conjure up a route to the final. Awful, scrappy games usually culminating in an ignominious third round exit. One game, possibly a painful replay. That's magic for you.

Last year a dire draw at home led to Town being eliminated by York City. The year before that, much to my other half's glee, Wycombe held the Mariners at Adams Park before trouncing them 3-1 during their well-documented cup run. It took the one-off earlier third round in 1999 to see Town last progress to the fourth round as they scraped a 3-2 win over Stockport - only to limply surrender to Bolton 2-0 in the next round. That was hardly appeasement for those with mind-numbed memories of the previous season's 2-1 loss at Valley Parade. A sublime long-range strike from Macca offered late, but duly false, hope of a resurrection against a Bradford side who hardly need encouragement from the bog of a pitch to hoof the ball forward at every opportunity.

This year Town have been presented with the chance to add to this collection of dour encounters with teams that we could and should beat - given the number of times we've held home advantage, God only knows why we don't. It's not as if fixture congestion results from progressing to the fourth round -two Saturdays are specifically put aside at the start of the season for the third and fourth round ties. Maybe that's why Town don't progress - the chance of a Saturday off eagerly conspired towards by the players?

I'd contend that the magic of the cup just doesn't exist when the Mariners' number is pulled out of that hi-tech ball-shuffling machine the FA uses these days. This year Town made it through to the last ten teams to be drawn - and there were still several Premiership teams in that draw as well. So when "Grimsby Town" was announced I paused... I waited... I expected... another lacklustre tie; expectation built up by years of uninspiring encounters against "lesser" teams. And sure enough, "Burnley" was the next thing audible in the Wilson kitchen. Sure my mind flashed back to the 6-5 game a month before that, but come on - as if that would happen again. I was more excited by the possibility of contemplating who I wanted to go through from a prospective Scunthorpe v Leeds tie (a tough call since I don't particularly wish either team well - if you have decided mail me and let me know).

But the draw had been made and it couldn't be changed. This wasn't the Champions League where they correct a draw that breaks all the criteria they set down. The prospect of Burnley it is...

The departure of John Oster (recalled back to Sunderland by Howard Wilkinson) before the Bradford game stirred anxious thoughts as to whether Town would have the guile in midfield to break down a team as forceful as Bradford, thoughts washed away with the rains that postponed the new year's fixture. Oster was finding consistent form and was controlling games before his recall.

Not that the team selection is going to be any easier on Paul Groves tomorrow than it would have been on Wednesday. At least the insistent pressures of the league can be put aside to let the manager run the rule over a number of the club's youngsters - given their chance in the absence of so many senior players.

Steve Livingstone is suspended; Jason Gavin's loan period has expired; and injuries rule out Alan Pouton (knee injury, possibly out until the end of this month), Darren Barnard and Paul Raven; while there are big doubts over Stacy Coldicott's fitness. Midfield is likely feature two of Terry Cooke, Chris Bolder or Iain Ward complementing Stuart Campbell and Groves - our money's on Ward on the right after his impressive performance against Derby, with Cooke hopefully on the opposite flank. Up front the young trio of David Soames, Chris Thompson and the seemingly forgotten Jonny Rowan are vying for a place with the increasingly confident Darren Mansaram.

Another important doubt for the game is the pitch itself. After failing two pitch inspections on new year's day, the Blundell Park ground staff have been working to shift as much water as possible. Fingers crossed - if the rain stays away there should be no worries.

What of our visitors? Turf Moor has seen its share of troubles lately. Nearly a month ago Nathan Shaw, a Nottingham Forest fan, died after a violent incident before his team's game at Burnley. Billy Morris - the last remaining member of Burnley's defeated 1947 FA Cup final side - passed away on new year's eve at the age of 87. Remarks about Neil Warnock in Stan Ternant’s autobiography were highlighted by sections of the press in the build-up to the Clarets' previous (and postponed) game against Sheffield United (quite what the fuss was about we don't know - we've yet to meet anyone who does like Neil Warnock).

And then there are matters on the pitch, where the Clarets' form of late has been what can kindly be described as 'erratic'. Tidy home wins against Wolves, Norwich and Forest contrast startlingly with sound drubbings to Gillingham, Rotherham, and Preston. On the road the Clarets boast the worst equal defensive record in the division letting in 29 goals - a feat shared with Stoke City. The last time these two teams met, Burnley let in six of those goals on that ballyhoo-laden Tuesday night at Blundell Park at the end of October. Their cup form over the past few years has seen ignominous defeats to Cheltenham and Scunthorpe.

Ternant's teams have stocky powerhouses at the back, hustlers and bustlers through the middle, speedy wide men from the wings or from full-back who whip crosses in for the barging front line to poke home. They can vary their formation from 5-3-2 to 4-3-3 with reasonable ease and in Glen Little and Paul Weller they have two of the more adept wide men in the division - although Little misses this tie through suspension. Robbie Blake has been playing off Gareth Taylor of late and has provided some key performances, if not getting on the scoresheet regularly himself.

Town can take joy from the lack of pace in Burnley's back line that has been exploited by their opponents recently and the absence of the marshalling Steve Davis should help - ideal for the number of sprightly, enthusiastic kids out to make their mark. Midfield will be tight - Town's passers will have their avenues blocked and the tackles will be nippy. Burnley favour a more direct route if there isn't any space down the wings for them to exploit and they do have some decent hitters of the ball coming from deep in midfield.

This isn't an exquisite crate of Clarets, more like one of those cheap boxes of red you can get from Tesco - there to do a job. Namely to hammer you.

As a match it is finely balanced. Burnley will be out to avenge losing to the odd goal in eleven in October, missing out on three points last April that would have secured them a play-off berth and as a result being the butt of a jibe in my wedding speech (not that anyone noticed). Hopefully a few of Town's senior players will be glancing nervously over their shoulders at those on the pitch come the end of the game.

As the game stands, it's a vital learning experience for the manager and those players given their chance. Progressing to the fourth round, with the hope of that ever-elusive lucrative tie against a 'big boy', would be magic.