TOWN 2 BURNLEY 1
Norwood and Vaughan net in superb victory
Town’s impressive recent form against Burnley continued with a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Oliver Norwood and James Vaughan.
Burnley-boy Oliver Norwood opened the scoring from range before James Vaughan netted from a controversially awarded penalty.
Danny Ings replied late on for the visitors, but it wasn’t enough as Town became only the third team this season to defeat the Clarets.
Unsurprisingly Mark Robins named an unchanged side for the visit of league leaders Burnley – and his Terriers started from where they had left off at Hillsborough.
Norwood, who was impressive in the Wednesday win, shot just wide during the opening minutes before Claret’s ‘keeper Tom Heaton did excellently to tip Adam Hammill’s cross wide of the waiting James Vaughan.
Vaughan, who was once again captaining Town in the absence of Peter Clarke, had a mixed first half which began with him warming the fingertips of Heaton with a stinging volley. It finished disappointingly, though, with the striker missing a gilt-edged chance at the back post after superb play from Oliver Norwood.
Burnley hadn’t won in three league games and it showed as Town did all the running in the first 45.
Former Claret Martin Paterson hit the post with a diving header from Dixon’s cross, while Vaughan went close again when he saw a lot shot smothered well by Heaton.
Sean Dyche’s men looked a danger on the break with the powerful Welsh international Sam Vokes causing Town problems in the air.
Danny Ings was the man profiteering from his impressive front play and almost broke clear during the opening exchanges, but was stopped in his tracks by the recovering Joel Lynch. Ings, who had 14 goals to his name before the game, had a superb opportunity to make it 15 midway through the half, but hit over from Kieran Trippier’s deep cross.
Burnley made two changes at half time to try and stem the tide, but it had no effect with Town deservedly going ahead in the 50th minute. Like Danny Ward’s goal against Leeds, the Terriers worked a corner well with Hammill finding Norwood 25 yards out from goal, whose dipping volley was too much for Heaton to deal with.
It was to get even worse for Burnley just four minutes later, when Vaughan was given the chance to make it two from 12 yards after Michael Duff was harshly judge to have handled in the box. Vaughan had missed earlier in the season against Blackpool, but he made no mistake this time around.
Burnley had come from behind to earn draws in two of their last three games and should have reduced the deficit on the hour mark when the ball fell to Ings six yards out, but he found Alex Smithies in inspired form to keep out his volley.
Smithies’ next act wasn’t as inspired, though, when he fumbled a simple Burnley through ball. Thankfully for Town, Anthony Gerrard was on hand to produce some unorthodox defending to prevent Vokes from netting.
The league leaders were building up a head of steam as the clock continued to tick down and had the ball in Smithies’ net 13 minutes from time, all be it illegally. Vokes converted Junior Stanislas’ cross from close range, but was adjudged to have been in an offside position by the assistant referee.
Burnley weren’t disheartened, though, and continued to pile forward in search of a goal and were rewarded six minutes from time when Vokes sent Ings clear, who calmly finished past Smithies.
The Clarets were unable to add to the score line despite six minutes of added time, and ended the game with just ten men when Michael Duff was given his marching orders.
Town’s team (3-5-2):
Alex Smithies; Joel Lynch, Anthony Gerrard, Tommy Smith; Paul Dixon, Jonathan Hogg, Adam Clayton, Oliver Norwood, Adam Hammill (Calum Woods, 87); Martin Paterson (Danny Ward, 74), James Vaughan (c)
Unused substitutes:
Ian Bennett, Murray Wallace, Oscar Gobern, Sean Scannell, Duane Holmes
Bookings Town: Adam Clayton 90+5
Bookings Burnley: Michael Duff 55 + 90+3
Red card Burnley: Michael Duff
Gate: 17,390
Away: 3,639
