Love at first sight as Everton are shot down

BURNLEY fans have had to wait patiently before getting their first glimpse of new striker Alan Lee.

But when they were officially introduced last night it quicky became a case of love at first sight as the precocious 20-year-old bagged the winner before disappearing down the tunnel with the man-of-the-match award.

It was a Lee goal which earned Burnley a 1-1 draw in their behind-closed-doors friendly with Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

And the Irish under 21 international took only 11 minutes against Everton before poaching his second to win over the hearts of the Turf Moor faithful.

Of course it's far too soon to be drawing conclusions about anything at this stage of the summer.

A friendly against Everton is a million light years away from the hurly-burly of the Second Division.

But the £100,000 Stan Ternent has paid Aston Villa for the striker may turn out to be the bargain of the season if he lives up to his raw potential.

It wasn't as if Lee turned in a world-beating performance.

But he certainly worked his socks off and what he does seem to have is that handy knack all good strikers need - being in the right at the right time.

He reacted quicker than anyone else to prod home the only goal of the game on 44 minutes.

And he could have had a second after the break when he got on the end of a cross from John Mullin but his instinctive shot flew inches past the post. But there were other encouraging performnces too, especially from Ternent's other new recruits, which suggests, even at this stage, that the Clarets could be a force next year.

Mitchell Thomas looked a tower of strength at the heart of the defence alongside Steve Davis.

And the former Tottenham man demonstrated the kind of unflappable composure Burnley sorely missed in the dark days last year.

Dean West slotted in comfortably at right wing-back and looked even more impressive when Burnley switched to a flat back four after the break.

And John Mullin showed a few touches of genuine class when he came on in an attacking midfield role for the second half.

But these are early days and Ternent remained understandably cautious after the game, insisting it was purely a fitness exercise.

Secretly, though, he must have been delighted by some of his side's passing and movement which, at times, made Everton look decidedly ordinary, especially in the second half.

Walter Smith opted to start the game with some of his young guns and they caused Burnley's back five a few nervous moments in the opening half. Phillip Jevons brought a smart save out of Paul Crichton with a stinging cross-shot.

Then the Clarets keeper pulled off a brilliant double stop to deny both Danny Cadamarteri and Terry Phelan.

Andy Cooke and Andy Payton were then replaced by Lee and Graham Branch before Cadamarteri fluffed another good chance after a sublime pass from Scott Gemmill and Phelan then rattled the bar.

It was Burnley, though, who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.

Lee was bundled to the ground on the right hand side of the box and, when Micky Mellon delivered the free kick, the 20-year-old slid in at the far post amongst a posse of players to stab the ball past one-time transfer target Paul Gerrard.

Mullin and Glen Little replaced Paul Cook and Gordon Armstrong during the break as Ternent reverted to a flat back four.

And that seemed to give the Clarets more balance in the second half.

Mullin brought the crowd to their feet with a brilliant run which finished up with Lee firing just wide of the post.

Then Irish trialist Stephen Grant - one of a host of second half substitutes - hit the bar from eight yards after Gerrard palmed away a dangerous Little cross. And as further experimentation by both managers disrupted the flow in the closing stages, Little should have made it two on 80 minutes but his shot was well smothered by Gerrard.

The biggest cheer of the night, though, came when Lee was announced as man of the match.

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

How they lined up:

BURNLEY: Crichton, West (Grant), Thomas, Mellon, Davis, Armstrong (Little), Cook (Mullin), Cooke (Branch), Payton (Lee), Johnrose (Jepson), Cowan (Smith).

EVERTON: Gerrard, Ward, Phelan (Ball), Gough, Weir, Dunne, Collins (Short), Degn (Unsworth), Cadamarteri (Jeffers), Jevons (Campbell), Gemmill (Barmby).

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