Burnley FC blog: We should be Ful of confidence (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley FC blog: We should be Ful of confidence

8:43am Tuesday 9th February 2010 in

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It might have been scrappy. It might have been ugly at times.

But on Saturday, Burnley managed to do what they hadn’t done since the last weekend in October. Burnley won a game of Premier League football.

And what a crucial victory it was.

Had the Clarets failed to claim three points from their encounter with West Ham, the psychological damage would have been enormous.

As it is, the win has given the players, the manager and the supporters an incredible and timely boost.

After a run of 12 league games without coming out on top, the switches marked ‘belief’ and ‘hope’ have been flicked. And, to coin a phrase, we can dare to dream again.

By and large, the game was not one for the purists, But it should be borne in mind that a team which has not recorded victory for over three months is unlikely to have confidence flooding through its veins.

Gianfranco Zola’s Hammers were strong for certain periods of the game and a neutral observer might argue that they deserved a share of the spoils.

Yet in the final analysis, the ultimate statistic shows that the Clarets did what the visitors failed to do by scoring twice.

David Nugent’s goal will have done him the world of good after he picked Matthew Upson’s pocket so adeptly.

And whilst the ball which gave Nugent (right) the platform to open the scoring might be described as an agricultural hoof, there was no getting away from the sublime quality of Fox’s superbly executed goal.

As has been noted elsewhere, Burnley have not made the most of the dead ball situations this term. Fox’s footwork may yet prove a vital weapon in the Clarets’ quest to survive.

Fox was rewarded for his efforts with the man of the match gong. Yet for this writer’s money, he was overshadowed by Kevin McDonald.

At his best, the giant Scot is unplayable. His sheer physical bulk means he is not easy to knock off the ball whilst he has a pleasing knack of being able to keep possession.

Along with his team-mates. McDonald will have to be at his best tonight. Fulham at Craven Cottage is a tricky proposition, as the likes of Manchester United will testify.

Under Roy Hodgson’s stewardship they have shipped just eight goals at home all season.

A point would be a welcome return. And with the confidence from Saturday still swilling around their system, they must believe they can get it.