Burnley 1 Sunderland 1
Burnley Manager Jimmy Mullen. Previously unpublished image.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland summed up Burnley’s season, a win they deserved escaped them, chances went begging in a resounding finale and Burnley fought back from conceding a soft goal. The only differences from the usual script were that Burnley didn’t have a player sent off and the referee actually gave Burnley a penalty they hardly shouted for. Sunderland came to Burnley looking for the win that would ensure their First Division safety.
Sunderland knew they were safe as news of the Portsmouth defeat spread around the ground. They left the field as heroes while Burnley could only reflect on what might have been. Now they have got to get their act together and aim to bounce back. They will have a squad next season, if they can avoid too much summertime pillage, that will be the envy of the division. And having tasted life in the First Division they must surely want more. The fans deserve First Division football as a way of life not an occasional excursion, now everyone has got to work towards that goal.
For a full match report see the first image in this sequence.