Burnley have just beaten Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor. The season is five days old, but this will go down as one of its great upsets. Burnley have the lowest wage bill in the league, haven’t seen First Division football since 1976, were fifth in the Championship last season, and play in a stadium that seats 22,000 people and includes a stand named after a local minibus salesman. They were utterly overrun by Manchester United, but held on, after Robbie Blake gave them the lead, thanks to a hailstorm of last-ditch defending and a goalkeeping performance by Brian Jensen (who blocked a Michael Carrick penalty at one point) that was like a bass guitarist shoving aside the lead and playing a solo that tore the roof off the building.
This is the same Burnley that beat Fulham, Chelsea, and Arsenal in the Carling Cup last year, and while no one saw this result coming, they have a fine history, having won the First Division in 1921 and 1960, won the FA Cup in 1914, reached the quarterfinals of the European Cup in 1961, and produced in 2002 what may very well be the greatest mascot-streaker encounter in the history of world football:
We’re going to hear a lot in the next few days about how abject Manchester United looked in this match, and what it means for their title chances (and so on, yawning). But keep in mind that Burnley—who, again, finished fifth in the Championship last season—have a better record against the Big Four over the last two years than some of the Big Four have against each other. What they’ve accomplished is really impressive, and if we don’t start to hear Owen Coyle’s name in connection with some higher-profile managerial vacancies in the near future, it can only be because the wrath of Bertie Bee has club directors too terrified to act.
UPDATE: The goal.
Read More: Burnley, The Occasional Match Summary
by Brian Phillips · August 19, 2009
Even money says that’s Dean Windass in that bee costume.
Oh, and just to remind people, the Carolina Railhawks U-23 side beat Burnley 2-1 here in North Carolina two summers ago. Burnley liked those boys so much, they bought into the PDL team, and now they’re called the Cary Clarets.
FYI – alliteration is necessary to be associated with Burnley. I was interested in working in the club’s PR department, but would have to go by my middle name “Thomas”, not Elliott.
Dave — I completely forgot about that. Fantastic.
Several match reports I’ve read in the British papers cite the absence of Ferdinand and Vidic as crucial. I don’t get that. If you give up one goal while holding two-thirds of the possession, getting off twice as many shots, and taking thirteen corners to your opponents’ one, I don’t think the central defense is your chief problem.
Numancia has spent most of their history in the 3rd division of Spain. Only 4 of their seasons have been in the 1st division. In their most recent season there, they beat Barcelona for their first game. 1-0
So you never know. ManU might win the treble this season.
I guess some impressed rugby scout signed them both, the stalker and the bee.
surely goal of the season so far. i guess there’s a long way to go though.
http://videos.sapo.pt/fwJvb0nrYwdTb7hcZ4GZ
As narrated by Mr. Tyler.
“…and it drops for BLAAAKE!!!!”
Owen Coyle was actually offered the Celtic job. He stayed on at Burnley.
And everyone thought Burnley was an automatic relegation. Of course it is still early in the season yadda yadda yadda but it looks more like Portsmouth to me. And if Everton continues to be 11 trees in a petrified forest. . .
I actually agree with the commentators on the effect of ferdinand and vidic being missing.
The heart of the current central defence is looking pretty soft, it was a very good goal, but Burnley could have got more. Against Birmingham they looked like they might conceed as well.
The Burnley result was thoroughly deserved though, not a fluke, over 90 minutes they were better. Man U had a lot of possession, but they were looking pretty toothless, Owen is looking nervous, and shreck and rip van winkle are looking like they need to relax and get a few goals.
The midfield isn’t exactly looking imposing or full of goals either. They’ll sort it out, they always do, but I reckon they might have a bot if trouble defending their title this season.
the Mancs are looking emminently beatable at the moment and I’m hoping they don’t get vidic and ferdinand back before my lot play them in just over a week.
No content on this website will ever meet the standard that you have just set by posting that video. I don’t care if Pro Vercelli wins the quintuple. Nothing. beats. that. video.
Pro Vercelli already won the quintuple. And yes, you’re absolutely right about the video.
Original commentary on it was here, for anyone who wants to stretch out the moment.