A late Andre Gray strike fired the Clarets back into the automatic promotion places with a fine 2-1 win at St. Andrew’s Stadium. Wins for rivals Brighton and Middlesbrough before Burnley kicked off at St Andrews had seen Sean Dyche's men drop to third.
But they roared out a warning to both after Gray struck his 24th goal of the campaign 13 minutes from time after Jacques Maghoma’s second half header had cancelled out George Boyd’s first half strike.
And with Burnley hosting Midlesbrough in a summit meeting at Turf Moor on Tuesday, with a chance to go top, the scene is set for a thrilling end to the season.
Dyche made two changes from last week’s 1-0 victory over Leeds United, with David Jones and Sam Vokes (groin) missing out of the starting eleven.
Dean Marney returned in midfield while Ashley Barnes made his first start since the last game of the 2014/15 season.
Two early half-chances from the hosts failed to trouble Tom Heaton, as Ryan Shotton’s 10th minute header was glanced wide, ahead of a Maghoma strike from 20-yards which sailed aimlessly over.
Midway through the half another Maghoma chance went begging, as he fired wide from 12 yards following s slick City counter.
Moments later the Clarets had their first effort of the game.
Heaton’s kick-forward was headed out to Scott Arfield, and the newly capped Canadian ambitiously went for goal with a 25-yard volley which just dipped over the crossbar.
However on the half hour mark the visitors struck first.
Matthew Lowton’s low cross from the right was only half-cleared to the edge of the box, and a fine strike from Boyd found the bottom right corner!
To read the complete match report please click on the link below;
Unusually for us our options are improving in these last few games...Boyd seems more himself,Barnes brings something else and Marney is doing what I thought in sharing the load with Joey...Dyer in his short appearance looks like something we have been short of and means the grass on the left wing will get a little wear.....about fecking time.To win today in all the circumstances has value beyond measure and puts us in a completely different place for our game with Boro on Tuesday night.....boy would I like to be there, instead I will have to abuse the telly/pc if we are on.
It was one of the games (again) where i had that feeling we certainly were never going to lose, and probably go on to win, despite being on the lesser side of the stats. We have mastered the art of getting results whilst not playing at our best.
Couple of points from the game - Boyd had his best game in ages for us. And personally, i was really impressed with Lloyd Doyley. He's a good outlet, got pace, showed he can keep possession and put decent balls into the box. Would be happy to see more of him, although we cant start messing about making unforced changes at this stage of the season i suppose.
I hope Vokes is back for the next game. Dont think Barnes is up to it yet, especially at such an important time.
Obviously Barnes will play if Vokes is still struggling with injury But I did question his full match fitness on another thread.He's probably ok for the last 20 minutes or so.
Same with Dyer.Both could make an impact and change the game.
I did like Gary Rowett's little whinge after the game. They should have had a penalty, most blatant pen he'd ever seen, his player got his head kicked off. Then it cut to a replay of said incident, his player, head still perched securely on his shoulders, is falling to the ground clutching his hip FFS. Even the studio muppets weren't having it as a pen, not even close to one. You have to laugh though.
It was pretty much in front of us, and it never even crossed my mind it might be a penalty.
He was a bad ref though. Par for the course i suppose, but Joey took a couple of clatterings before he decided he better look for his whistle.
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