Burnley 4 Ipswich Town 2

By Longsider
February 22 2004

Burnley maintained their unbeaten league run in 2004 with a win over 4th placed Ipswich. The Clarets are now 6 points above the relegation zone.

Burnley made one change to the side that was defeated at Millwall last week with Paul Weller replacing Neil Wood on the left hand side.

The Clarets took the game to Ipswich and played some decent stuff in the opening twenty minutes. Drissa Diallo, who was booed throughout, was beaten by Little who then delivered an excellent cross which Blake to dummied only to see Paul Weller have his shot saved by Davis.

It was an open game but Burnley had a great spell when first Glen Little scored after Davis had parried Weller's shot before David May headed home a Blake corner. Ipswich were shell shocked and failed to create anything of any real note for the remainder of the half.

Ipswich started the better of the two sides in the 2nd half with Counago scoring but fortunately the linesman had already raised his flag. Burnley needed a third to kill the game off and we got it thanks to local hero Richard Chaplow. A cross from the left was headed out by a Town defender but only as far as Chappy who hit an unstoppable volley into the corner of the net. This was great stuff from Burnley and most fans couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Burnley could have had a penalty shortly afterwards but referee Dean booked Little for what he believed was a dive in the box. Ipswich pulled one back in the 65th minute when Westlake reacted fist to a cross from the right to give the visitors hope. Jensen should have done better as the ball trickled over him into the net. The goal seemed to happen in slow motion and it must have been a good 10 seconds before the 800 Ipswich fans reaslised they had scored.

Burnley had chances through Moore and Little but couldn't find a 4th goal. Ipswich continued to press and were awarded a freekick 30 yards out when Grant brought down Reuser. Reiser got himself up to take the freekick and hit a great shot into the top corner of the goal.

It would be fair to say that the Clarets were hanging on by this stage as Ipswich threw everyone forward. In truth Ipswich should have scored as they had 2 great chances. The first one came when Richards broke down our right and beat Jensen only to see his shot come back off the post. Magilton also had a great chance when he was allowed time in the box but his shot was saved by Jensen.

Thankfully Burnley managed to hit Ipswich on the break during this sustained spell of pressure. Little broke down the right and his simple cross was converted into the net by Robbie Blake to give the Clarets the points.

Burnley:-
Jensen, Roche, May, McGregor, Camara, Little, Grant, Chaplow, Weller(Orr 75), Moore and Blake.

Subs:- Rachubka, West, A.Moore and Chadwick

Ipswich Town:-
Davis, Wilnis(Richards 31), McGreal, Naylor, Diallo(Counago45), Westlake, Magilton, Wright, Miller, Kuqi(Reuser 61), Bent.

Subs:- Price and Santos

Referee was Mike Dean(Wirral)