The Longside Reference

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 4 - 1 BURNLEY Everyone who was expecting a quiet start to the season, were badly mistaken as approx 3,500 thousand Clarets made the journey over the pennines to Hillsborough. With Owen Coyle hoping to start his first full season in charge with a win Penny, Van Der Schaff, Paterson and Chris Eagles making their League there debuts, with Cristian Kalvenes on the bench.

Burnleys who 24 seconds into the new season found themselves one down, when a long punt up to Paterson was returned double quick for the unmarked Tudgay to hit a deflected shot past Burnley debutant keeper Diego Penny.

It was worse still after 4 minutes when Captain Steven Caldwell allowed the ball to bounce on the edge of his own area allowing the rampant Sodje to hammer home.

Paterson got Burnley back into the game after 6 minutes when he flicked the ball into the net from a cross from Wade Elliott. After just 17 minutes Burnley were 3-1 down when Johnson tore Graham Alexander to bits to cross to the far post with Burnleys defence stood still even pedestrian like (according to 2BR), to allow Sodje to tap home.

Sodje who had to leave the field injured before half time after running into Micheal Duff, some relief for Burnley as Sodje had who was on a hat trick. Burnley were so poor even the commentators were at a loss saying that "Burnley hadn't won a header all half".

Owen Coyle must have ripped into the faltering Clarets at half time , because Burnley's first half performance was worse than poor.

The same eleven started the second half, as Coyle must have hoped they would redeem themselves.

McCann had a 20 yard shot well saved as Burnley started the second half with a point to prove. McCann went close again with a header after good work on the wing from Eagles and Paterson.

Jimmy O'Connor collected a yellow on his return against his former club for a rugby tackle on Chris Eagles, Blake put the resulting free kick on target but a deflection from a Wednesday player put the ball wide with the keeper beaten all ends up.

13 minutes into the second half and Coyle makes his first change bringing Joey Gudjonsson on for Remco Van Der Schaff.

Burnley's fans were given the taunt from their championship counterparts with the "you might as well go home", not a good day so far.Even free kicks were going wrong a quick one was taken by Robbie Blake, but he uncharacteristicly put the ball behind Eagles, who did managed to get the ball in the box but it was like a scene out of a carry on film "farcical defending".

4-1 down after 65th minute when Burnleys defence AGAIN were all at sea as Sheffield went straight down the middle and Tudgay was on hand to net his second of the afternoon. All Wednesday need to do is put the ball in Burnley' half and watch them panic, Burnley are lucky not to be looking a a cricket score!

Ade came on to a chorus of boos when he came on for Robbie Blake, his first miss kick gained Burnley a corner but Lee Grant was easy able to punch clear, another ball into the box another header lost by the Burnley players.

With Ade on it was a case of lump the ball forward and hope, but Ade's first touch has never been good so it turns out to be meat and drink to the Owls men.

Caldwell with five minutes to go was lucky not to give away a penalty, twice!.  Letting the ball bounce in the box, pulling back players and letting Deon Burton, all 5'10 of him, out battle him for the ball.

Burnley Debut Keeper cannot take all the blame for this debacle, Burnleys defence need to take the lions share of the blame, Shambolic, disgraceful, pedestrian, shocking, Dodgy just some of the words used during this game!

So on to Bury on Tuesday night, Bury have won their first match of the season 1-0 at home to Brentford.  Lets just hope that Burnley learn how to defend between now and Tuesday or it could be an early exit for the Clarets