BALTIMORE, Maryland July 30, 2014 - Burnley no longer has an unbeaten record in the preseason, and everything about the 2-1 loss to League One Side Preston NE is cause for worry. Claret coach Sean Dyche decided last night was the night he would begin to ramp up the amount of playing time afforded his top line players, but as they say on this side of the pond, he didn't get much bang for his buck.
Burnley did break on top early on when newcomer Lukas Jutkiewicz scored his third goal in as many matches. The tally came in the 15th minute according to an account of the game on the team's website,on a feed from David Jones. Jones adroitly stole the ball from Preston defender Bailey Wright, and fed Jutkiewicz, who then merely had to beat the Northender's keeper, Jamie Jones. He did so with polished ease. According to reports, the Claret dominated play in the opening half, and the score from Jutkiewicz came after several near misses. Things began to turn as the half approached. First, Preston's Joe Garner fired a missle from 20 yards that brought a fine save from Claret Keeper Matt Gilks, starting for the second straight time as first string keeper Tom Heaton continued to rehap his injured calf. This time, however, Dyche went with Gilks throughout after splitting time in the firs two games with last year's back-up, Tom Cisak. Cisak started the opener against Austrian Side FC Grossklein and played the second half against Accrington Stanley without allowing a goal. Right before halftime last evening Preston appeared to equalize after a header from the home team captain, Tom Clark, beat Gilks, but the Claret benefitted when an offside call took the score away.
After the half, Burnley continued to dominate possession, but Preston began to counter-attack effectively. Not long after the break, Alan Browne beat Gilks after havig taken a pass from Garner. With two minutes left it appeared that Preston would take the lead when Ben Davies got off a scorpion kick, but Gilks saved it. Two minutes later, however however, Josh Brownhill beat Gilks on a 30-yard free kick. Burnley had only injury time to fashion a rally, and this thety could not do.
Apparently many of the lads who started against Preston will also start against Chelsea on August 18. Heaton is said to be on target to return before then as the keeper, and one wonders what Cisak has done to fall behind Gilks as the backup keeper. What is the status of Sam Vokes and will be be ready any time soon? Jutkiewicz and Marvin Sordell look like good pick-ups, but after exploding for eight scores against the fifth division Austrian side in the preseason opener, the Claret have been held to a single score against sides in lower leagues for two matches running.
It is way too early to worry, isn't it?
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