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| Two goals for Sam Vokes |
The two goals came in a five minute spell in the first half against a strong Stoke side. The first of the goals came when Luke O'Neill got the better of Owen and found Martin Paterson. He pulled the ball back for Vokes who slotted home from inside the penalty box.
Number two came from a Dane Richards corner, Vokes heading home. We'd been the better side to that point in the game but in the last quarter of an hour of the first half it was the home side who got themselves on top.
We held them off up to the break but Brek Shea, a January signing from the FC Dallas in the MLS, headed home from a corner. They twice came close to an equaliser but young defenders Kevin Long and Alex Coleman did well and it was Burnley very much in the ascendancy in the closing stages.
Two Vokes goals will have given watching manager Sean Dyche food for thought as will some of the performances of the other players.
The team showed one change to that announced yesterday with Cameron Howieson coming in for Keith Treacy.
It was: Brian Jensen, Luke O'Neill, Kevin Long, Alex Coleman, Joseph Mills, Dane Richards, Marvin Bartley, Brian Stock, Cameron Howieson (Adam Evans 70), Martin Paterson, Sam Vokes (Joe Jackson 60).
Besides Shea, the Stoke team included Charlie Adam, Wilson Palacios, Jermaine Pennant, Mamady Sidibe and Michael Owen.