Paper Talk: Blake blues

Last updated : 29 December 2004 By Wigan Evening Post.
The Burnley striker looks set to be heading to Birmingham City, who stepped in with an offer over Christmas.

It is believed the Premiership club have matched the £1.25m bid made by Latics earlier in the month, but more of the money will be paid up front rather than hinging on other factors.

News that Birmingham are close to landing Blake added more disappointment to yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor.

Blake was an unused substitute, watching from the bench as Graham Branch's 24th-minute goal inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Latics.

The result dropped them down to third place in the table behind leaders Ipswich who beat Stoke City, and Sunderland whose victory at Nottingham Forest lifted them into the top two.

Jewell: Bemused by Burnley Booing
Jewell, loudly jeered by the Burnley fans at the game because of his pursuit of Blake, is annoyed he hasn't pulled off the signing.

Jewell said: "Burnley are determined not to sell him to us and that is their prerogative.

"The player has talked to some of our lads as he knows them and says he wants to come, but they won't let him come so it's not going to happen.

"We made what I think is a fair offer. Birmingham have matched that, so I'm told, yet it has been accepted.

"I understand Burnley don't want to let him go to another Championship club.

"The offer we made was £1m with more on getting promotion and stuff like that.

"Even if we offered £3m now, they wouldn't sell him to us.

"I've heard the word 'insult' bandied about as regards to the first offer we made for Robbie, and maybe everything stems from that.

"A first offer is always a negotiating point, but they were obviously not happy with that."

Jewell was perplexed by the booing aimed at him by the Burnley fans, but was quick to shrug it off.

He said: "I don't know what the big problem is.

"I made an offer and maybe it's because they haven't been involved in a big transfer of late round here.

"We made three offers for the player, and if it was Steve Bruce walking out there, I wouldn't have thought he would get booed."

Jewell pinpointed a lack of sharpness going forward as being the reason behind yesterday's defeat.

His side enjoyed a good share of possession but didn't test Clarets goalkeeper Brian Jensen much.

He said: "Burnley scored with their only real chance of the game.
"Apart from that, we played well between the two boxes but lacked that cutting edge to trouble the keeper.

"For all the possession we had, we didn't make enough chances.
"We've had three defeats on the spin now, and of those three games, this was as well as we have played for the 90 minutes.

"We played well for the first half against Derby, didn't perform at Ipswich, but our possession and football was good against Burnley."