HALTS BURNLEY
Reading’s in-form striker inspires Clarets’ downfall
half chances.Yes, Sam Vokes might have won a penalty when his shot struck the arm of Jordan Obita. But for all their dominance, the Clarets lacked the dynamism of a Reading side that bristled with menace.
It wasn’t what they did so much as what was threatened; a man stung by a bee will think twice before dipping for honey and Burnley were clearly inhibited.
Flaws were especially glaring in midfield, where the normally tidy pairing of David Jones and Scott Arfield spent much of the opening hour passing to opponents or being shrugged aside.
Indeed, it wasn’t until the introduction of debutant Joey Barton that control was finally wrestled back and shortly afterwards Tendayi Darikwa – outstanding for the home side – netted at the back post.
“We knew what we were getting with Tendayi,” said Burnley boss Sean Dyche, who paid Chesterfield £600,000 for the 23-year-old rightback in June. “There are no guarantees but he’s settled in quickly and he’s maturing into a very good player.
“He was very effective today, especially going forward. That’s something we have been encouraging and he’s looking like a real good asset for us.”
Thereafter it was one-way traffic, with Jordan Obita and Ollie Norwood clearing off the line and Vokes forcing a save from Jonathan Bond.
“I can’t complain about the response,” added Dyche. “The chances we created – it was enough to get something from the game.You generally judge by the reaction of the crowd and the fact they clapped us off speak volumes.
“Unfortunately, you can’t give away a two-goal start at any level. It allows them to drop off and kill the game and that’s what they did.”