Burnley Wins at Blackpool; Premier Now So Very Close!

BALTIMORE, Maryland April 18, 2014 - You've run a marathon or maybe two marathons in succession. You come around the final bend and allow yourself just a peek forward. And now for the first time you can see the glory you have come so far for. If that approximates what Burnley is working for, then you get the picture. Right now, the glory of success is within touching distance for the understated Claret. After Michael Kightly's sublime score four minutes past half, giving Burnley at 1-0 victory over Blackpool, they are now eight points clear with three matches remaining. And now, only one of the pursuers remain. Derby County also won tonight, beating back Doncaster, 2-0. Queens Park doesn't play until tomorrow, but for Burnley, the Rangers no longer matter. Their chance to earn automatic promotion ended with Burnley's victory tonight.

Kightly nearly scored in the first half when he snuck in and stole a back pass, but his shot went right at Matt Gilks, the Blackpool keeper. In the second half, after a pass from Dean Marney, the on-loan player (from Stoke) didn't miss. The side-footed shot curled past Gilks. The BBC called the entire match a one-sided affair, so dominant was Burnley, but few shots were taken by either side. Over 94 minutes, the Seasiders had 10 shots, not one of them on goal. The Claret managed the same number of shots, but six were on target. One glorious shot made it to the back of the net.

In the 53rd minute, the home crowd of over 16,000 put on a demonstration. Tennis balls galore rained down on the pitch, so many that play had to be stopped. The crowd is angry at Club Chairman of the Board Carl Oyston, and they chose the 53rd minute because it was Blackpool's victory in the 1953 FA Cup that the Fans consider Blackpool's finest hour. Only in England. Later, an assistant coach was booted off the pitch by the referee because he lost his temper at a Blackpool sub, waiting to come in the game, and put a hand to his face.

Monday night the Claret are at Turf Moor to play Wigan Athletic.