Bristol City 3 Burnley 1 - Neil Bramwell's big match verdict

FOR 71 minutes it was impossible to tell which side was struggling at the bottom of the league and which was flying high.

But in one split second of impulsive stupidity, the answer was rammed down Chris Waddle's throat.

Marlon Beresford was the culprit.

At 1-1, Burnley were not just containing Bristol but causing all kinds of problems at the other end.

Then a clever Mickey Bell ball released Colin Cramb into the Burnley area.

Beresford raced off his line but Cramb was first there, nudging the ball out of the keeper's reach but also out of harm's way towards the bye-line with defenders flocking towards the goal.

The chance of Cramb's angle being too narrow for a goal attempt was one worth taking.

But the keeper chose to send the forward crashing to the ground for a blatant penalty which Bell sent confidently into the roof of the Burnley goal.

A previously subdued Ashton Gate erupted and City were on their way to a record-equalling ninth successive win.

That was a cruel outcome for a battling Burnley side who showed both spirit for the fight and consistent enterprise.

The scoreline flattered John Ward's side, currently second in the table, and Burnley deserved at least a point.

Waddle had been able to field the same side which beat Northampton and there were clear signs of a better understanding amongst the players.

Burnley used the flanks to much better effect and the tempo of their attack was altogether more brisk.

Mark Ford and Gerry Harrison bossed the midfield and, throughout the side, distribution was both more intelligent and effective. Where Beresford's blunder was out of step with the display in general, Burnley's goal typified their assured start.

Barnes, back to his best as a harassing handful for the Bristol defence, brought down a Steve Blatherwick free kick with a first touch which created space on the edge of the penalty area.

The ball bounced unkindly but Barnes swivelled and belted a scorching volley into the top right hand corner of the Bristol goal.

That gave Burnley the bit between their teeth and the Clarets could easily have been defending a 2-0 lead.

Minutes earlier Barnes had struck a free kick into a crowded area before the ball bounced back into his path.

Keith Welch could only parry the second effort, Ford nipping into poke home as the linesman ruled the midfielder marginally offside.

Many officials would have judged that Ford had not been interfering with play.

But Bristol had also already served notice of their own potential for menace.

Greg Goodridge volleyed over in the opening minutes and a long throw from the same player was allowed to drift unchallenged across the Burnley six yard area.

Beresford then showed more decisiveness when a Jim Brennan cross attacked the same area.

His next and more lofted cross was met by the giant Bermudan striker Shaun Goater, who headed well wide.

The same Bristol combination produced the final chance of a tight first half, this time Goater volleying over the bar.

The second half positively exploded into life. Adam Locke served notice of the City intent but dragged a clear strike across the face of the Burnley goal.

But Burnley were not so fortunate just a minute later.

An excellent Rob Edwards ball found Barbadian Goodridge in space on the right flank.

He took on Neil Moore, jinking to the edge of the area from where he off-loaded a rasping left-foot strike.

The shot deflected from its low path to goal to rise above the sprawling Beresford and into the roof of the net.

Bristol grew in confidence and Bereford was coming under increasing pressure.

After a parried Goodridge shot, Tommy Doherty's lobbed rebound strike was deflected for a corner.

Burnley, though, were still posing their own problems.

Another Barnes long-range effort was tipped over the bar and Blatherwick and Paul Weller were unlucky from the resulting corners.

Barnes then turned provider, hooking a Waddle throw into the path of strike partner Lee Howey, who volleyed wide.

Harrison also warmed the hands of Welch after being released into the area in a neat one-two with Barnes.

Ironically, Waddle was attempting to substitute himself to combat Ward's half-time tinkering when the disaster of the second goal struck. Bell had been pushed into a midfield role and Brennan switched to full back, Ward feeling that Brennan was paying Waddle too much respect on Burnley's right.

"I thought Mickey Bell would get beyond Waddle and give Chris Brass a problem, even though Brass is quick.

"That one change did okay," said Ward, understating the tactical nouse which went a long way to creating the second goal.

Waddle came off for Damian Matthew straight after the penalty but Burnley were allowed just one more chance as Bristol tried to stifle the game.

Howey's header from a corner was tipped onto the bar before Barnes's follow-up charge was scrambled away by the City defence.

Then Goodridge dealt the killer blow.

The pacey winger dodged between two Burnley defenders and into space inside the penalty area.

Again turning onto his favoured left foot his shot squirted through a pack of players at the near post.

Waddle was right to be mainly upbeat about his side's display.

It certainly appeared that the Clarets enjoyed a break from the shackles that recent Turf Moor atmospheres have imposed.

There are, however, still defensive deficiencies to be ironed out before this renewed drive and growing promise can be converted into regular points.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.