Fusion United

[David Malone]

After Yesterday's Cup ties going badly for the Clarets, the key for the first league game of the season was to put that all behind them and get the league off to the right foot in their push for promotion! The Manager, fresh from his birthday celebrations yesterday, was keen to emphasise how key starting the league well was, and named a strong formation and team to face the much fancied INTER side(23.9Q).

The Clarets set up in a 4-1-4-1 formation to hep counter the pace that the INTER side had in the middle and to help match numbers with the opponents when they attacked in the box. This strategy worked for a fairly dicy first half which saw no goals conceded at either end, 0-0 at the break.

The manager decided to make a decisive change which swung the game in the Clarets' favour, he took off Bourgugion and put on Suarez, switching it to a 4-4-2 formation. It was felt that this change would make the Clarets team more offensive minded and get the breakthrough that was needed. The change was almost immediate.

On 56 Minutes, Keane who had for the most part been kept quiet this game, perhaps feeling his way into the season, set up Suarez, who didn't need a second offer and blasted beyond the opposing keeper, to make it 1-0 to the Clarets, the home support of 1000 finally had something to cheer about after the disappointment of the cup. The clarets now on top it would seem.

It took less than a minute to capitalise on the advantage, as Costa was fouled on the edge of the box, Mostto given the yellow card, and a free kick in a promising position. Johnson, with what is now becoming a trademark, whipped the free kick around the helpless defensive wall and into the top right corner of the net. 2-0 to the Clarets, and the league was off to a flying start.

The period before the end of the game was marred slightly when Keane recieved a yellow card for a silly challenge on 79 minutes, so he will have to be careful in the coming games to avoid a suspension. The manager may opt to start Suarez or even both for the next game.

A solid start for the Clarets today, can they build on it, is the question on the fans lips. Real Candy come to the Claret's home looking for a result tonight in the Champions League, United hoping to spoil their trip! Stay tuned!

Final Result: Fusion United 2 - 0 INTER