I wasn’t the one one within the media room to do a double take when discovering the Burnley workforce information included Armando Broja being chosen forward of Zian Flemming.
After a sequence of unsuccessful loans, the place he has clocked up extra accidents and time on the bench than enjoying minutes and objectives, the striker has garnished an undesirable fame of not being reduce out for English top-flight soccer.
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Whereas pessimists will probably be fast to level out Saturday’s show means Broja has now made 36 Premier League appearances since his final aim, optimists can have seen there’s fairly clearly a participant there.
For me, the Albania worldwide epitomised the guests’ efficiency.
The 24-year-old was the fixed out ball, somebody who was in a position to maintain up and subsequently hyperlink play whereas the sport was nonetheless 11v11.
When all the way down to 10 males, he by no means hid, he labored tirelessly and, within the uncommon moments of possession, he remained optimistic and tried to carry the ball ahead regardless of being swarmed upon by black and white shirts.
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In maybe their hardest second of the season to this point, Broja and his Burnley team-mates caught their chests out, stood as much as be counted and, as Scott Parker advised me after the match, delivered their “finest efficiency of the season”.
At no level in the course of the close to 100 minutes of recreation time did Burnley seem like a workforce who had misplaced their earlier 5 Premier League matches.
For the opening half an hour, and maybe up till Lucas Pires’ purple card, they had been unquestionably the higher facet.
In the end, Burnley headed again to Lancashire empty-handed and we should not lose sight of the actual fact it seems to be an especially massive ask for them to stay within the division.
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Nevertheless, for these away supporters who made the journey to the north east, there must be loads of solace in how a much-changed workforce clearly confirmed they’re up for the combat and stay totally dedicated to each the badge and their supervisor.