Return of clean sheets is a welcome relief (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Return of clean sheets is a welcome relief

5:51pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport By Stephen Cummings, Burnley FC fan columnist

HAD Terry Pashley not already ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managerial position at Turf Moor you might have thought that the performance he got out of the team on Saturday evening was a pretty impressive application for the job.

A televised victory over one of your local rivals, your leading scorer continuing his almost incredible run of form and, perhaps best of all, a clean sheet.

In the Championship it’s been two months and 10 games since Burnley managed to prevent their opponents from scoring, against Bolton Wanderers, on the opening day of the season.

Pashley had spoken in the week about the necessity to tighten up when not in possession. And that exactly what happened.

The most heartening thing about the shut-out was that it was thoroughly deserved.

Ian Holloway’s charges had netted 19 times in 10 games before Saturday. Yet other than a 10 minute spell in the second half, during which Lee Grant pulled off a stunning double save to deny first Alex Baptiste and then Gary Taylor-Fletcher, the Clarets never really looked in trouble.

Pleasingly, defensive solidity did not come at the expense of attacking fluency and there were encouraging signs going forward.

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