Plymouth Argyle 2 Burnley 2 - Tony Dewhurst's big match verdict

WELCOME to another Chris Waddle master class from Burnley's magnificent seven.

The Turf Moor player-manager turned in a vintage Claret performance in the teeth of a furious Devon gale to keep Burnley's mini-revival firmly on track.

Waddle produced everything but a handbrake turn as his one-man show left Plymouth chasing the shadow of that world famous number seven jersey.

He was simply on a different planet as Burnley underpinned a promising display with those vital travelling ingredients - bottle, fight and bravery - to score twice on the road in Division Two action for the first time this season.

"What can you say about the man," purred captain David Eyres.

"We just let him have the ball in the second half and he was producing all sorts.

"His cross for our second goal was straight out of a magic box.

"The gaffer did everything but stand on his head in the middle of Plymouth town centre."

With the press corps banished to the paddock terraces, I was lucky enough to get a rare touchline view - and yes, Waddle's show was a bit special.

Sandwiched between a young lass munching on a monster hot dog and an old chap waving his walking stick in the direction of the Burnley bench, I watched Waddle turn in an irrepressible performance.

Plymouth's defenders did not know which way to turn, and even when they chose the right options, they ended up on their backsides as Waddle turned on the magic.

Okay. That yard of pace has gone, but the 37-year-old genius still has one of the sharpest footballing minds in the business.

Waddle's skills would still grace the top flight and I doubt if some of the Plymouth lads will ever get as big a chasing until the day they hang up their boots. Even the six blokes stood behind me giving Waddle a fearful verbal battering every time he came within earshot, grudgingly put their hands together at the final whistle.

"I could hear them giving me some stick, but I couldn't understand the swear words because of the Devon accent," laughed Waddle.

With two sides of Plymouth stadium closed due to safety reasons, it was a surreal atmosphere with only 3,000 fans inside Home Park.

But Burnley's 350-strong support were soon given a lift as the Clarets nosed in front.

True, the decision to award a controversial penalty did appear harsh on the home side after Simon Collins upended Gerry Creaney, but Burnley had dominated proceedings prior to that and David Eyres' spot kick was just reward for their efforts.

Kicking into a fierce wind, Burnley had Plymouth on the back foot and that early dominance saw Waddle carve out Burnley's first chance after 45 seconds, Paul Barnes' powerful shot forcing Jon Sheffield into evasive action.

Waddle and Barnes both went close again before Gerry Harrison's surging run from midfield opened the way for Creaney and the Burnley penalty.

Plymouth, though, deploying an ambitious 4-3-3 formation, were not without their attacking moments and Marlon Beresford had to be at his sharpest to deny Earl Jean.

Burnley, in fact, had Neil Moore to thank for keeping their lead intact, kicking Jean's effort off the line after Chris Billy had carved out the danger. But just minutes before half time Plymouth were level.

Indeed, questions had to be asked over Burnley's collective marking as Jean - who netted a hat trick against the Clarets for Rotherham at Turf Moor last season - guided home Plymouth's leveller.

If that was poor marking, Plymouth's second in the 47th minute was a complete gift to the home side.

Martin Barlow swung in a corner across the face of the Burnley goal and captain Mick Heathcote, completely unmarked, planted a header inside the Burnley post.

The arrival of Paul Weller, though, handed Burnley better shape and balance, and it was then no coincidence that the Plymouth threat began to subside.

That was when Waddle moved into fifth gear with virtually every Burnley attack built around the player-manager.

And Burnley finally got their just reward with Waddle creator in chief.

Waddle's bending cross from the left flank left Jon Sheffield groping at the night air and Gerry Creaney and Mark Ford were both on hand to force the ball home over the line.

"I didn't intend that cross to go where it did, but it was nice to get a bit of luck at last," observed Waddle.

And Waddle cleared up the confusion of who claimed the Burnley equaliser after a furious debate between Creaney and Ford at the final whistle.

"Fordy tried to claim it, but you know what the lad is like," laughed Waddle.

"If Fordy is claiming it then I am having the goal. But seriously though, it was definitely Gerry Creaney who bundled it in.

"I don't mind who scores as long as we got a result to keep our run going."

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