Howe`s 4-0 Birthday Present

Eddie Howe got the best possible birthday present last night with the Clarets storming to a 4-0 victory over a lacklustre Ipswich side at Turf Moor. Burnley were in complete control and never really looked threatened at any time during the match. Our dominance was borne out by the match statistics which gave Burnley 63% of the possession with 24 attempted shots on goal compared to only 2 by Ipswich. It was also particularly pleasing to keep a clean sheet; only our second of the season. The victory moved the Clarets up two places to 14th in the table and further away from the drop zone. They now have 24 points from 19 games although that is still only four points clear of the bottom three places. The good news is though we are also only five points of the play-offs places which just goes to show how tight the Championship can be, with so many clubs fighting to find any sort of consistency.

It was disastrous night though for Ipswich and they have now gone six consecutive games without picking up a point. They were woeful to be honest and the worst team to play at Turf Moor this season by some distance, The two mini-bus loads of Ipswich fans who had braved the long trip from Suffolk must have been wondering why they had bothered and it can only have been a miserable journey back home. Ipswich gaffer, Paul Jewell said after the game:

'I feel physically sick. There's a lot of people with big reputations in that changing room. People keep on telling us what an experienced team and what good players we've got.

'They can all talk the talk but at the minute they're not doing it.

'It's unacceptable. I'm embarrassed walking past those supporters of ours who've travelled all that way to watch absolute garbage.

'Ultimately it's my responsibility and some of the stuff that is going on in there is not what we've been preaching. In fact, none of it is.'

Ipswich are now deep in trouble having dropped to 21st spot avoiding the bottom three on goal difference only and we all know how that feels after being in a similar position ourselves only two weeks ago and going to the KC stadium having lost our last four games.

The Clarets confidence now though should be high after winning their last two matches and the convincing performance against Ipswich sets us up nicely for the tricky game at high-flying West Ham on Saturday.

Team Sheet

With Ross Wallace suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card in the game against Hull City at the KC Stadium on Saturday, Howe was forced into one change for his starting eleven. Sam Vokes therefore was back in the starting line-up partnering Jay Rodriguez upfront in a 4-4-2 formation. The only other changes came on the bench. Dean Marney returned and there was no place for out-of-favour defender, Andre Amougou. Alex Macdonald instead was selected to add weight to our strike options on the bench.

We therefore lined up as follows:

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Duff, Edgar, Mee, McCann, Stanislas, Bartley, Treacy, Rodriguez, Vokes,

Substitutes: Stewart, Easton, Marney, MacDonald, Hines

Full Match Report

Following a one-minute applause for Gary Speed who sadly died this week, County Durham referee, Nigel Miller got the game underway with high strong, swirling winds and showers making playing conditions tricky in the opening exchanges. Thankfully the weather became somewhat calmer as the game went on but both teams struggled early on with high balls and trying to pass accurately. Ipswich probably had their best spell during this period though without really creating any goal-scoring opportunities.

Rodriguez however had fired an early warning shot in the 16th minute when he let rip with a 35 yard drive that forced third-string keeper, Arran Lee-Barrett to save at full stretch. It would be the start of a very busy night for the keeper standing in for the injured David Stockdale and Richard Wright. The keeper was soon in action again this time tipping over a header from Rodriguez following a cross from Trippier.

The game was pretty scrappy in the first 30 minutes or so and it was certainly not a match neutrals would have enjoyed watching but all that was about to change! In the 33rd minute, on-loan striker, Sam Vokes opened his account for the Clarets giving Burnley a 1-0 lead. A Rodriguez attempt had been deflected away for a corner and as the ball came over from Treacy`s delivery, there was Vokes to head home at the near post.

The Clarets never really looked back after taking the lead and now began to dominate possession.

Treacy came close after stinging the keeper`s fingers before McCann moments later saw his effort parried away by the keeper. Lee-Barrett then pounced on the ball to save at the second attempt.

Burnley continued to pile on the pressure against a shell-shocked Ipswich defence and it finally paid off in injury time towards the end of the first half. Stanislas charging forward into penalty area got over a superb low cross and there was Chris McCann to side foot home and make it 2-0 at half-time.

Eddie Howe unsurprisingly made no changes at half-time and again the Clarets continued to dominate from the start of the second half.

Rodriguez released Stanislas in the 52nd minute and the lively winger once again charged into the penalty area to get in a cross. Treacy in the six yard box with the ball behind him just couldn`t hook the ball on target though and Ipswich once more breathed a sigh of relief.

Vokes was making mincemeat of the woeful Ipswich defence and he was nearly the architect of a third goal after knocking down the ball to Rodriguez. This time though Jay Rod scuffed his shot and the ball flew wide of target. He came closer in the 65th minute, after racing forward from his own half. It was a better shot this time but it was still wide.

One minute later though, the Clarets were celebrating again effectively making it game over for Ipswich. This time a through-ball from Keith Treacy found Chris McCann and he let rip with a shot that flew past the advancing Ipswich keeper to make it 3-0 to the Clarets.

We had done yet either and continued to pound the Ipswich goal with Lee Grant a virtual spectator.

Vokes volleyed an inch-perfect Trippier cross over the top before Burnley rubbed further salt in the Blues wounds with 12 minutes to go. Rodriguez had been a handful for the Ipswich defence all night and it was fitting he would have the final word and also get on the score sheet. Linking well with Stanislas, he made space to unleash a left footed shot that sailed low into the bottom corner of the net to complete a miserable night for Ipswich and their fans.

4-0 then the final score! Our first home win in 3 attempts and the first time we had beaten Ipswich in eight games. Bring on West Ham!


Match Stats

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Duff, Edgar, Mee, McCann, Stanislas, Bartley (Marney 50), Treacy, Rodriguez (MacDonald 82), Vokes (Hines 80)

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Easton, Marney, MacDonald, Hines

Goals: Vokes 33, McCann 45+1, 66, Rodriguez 77

Booked: Yellow card for Treacy

Ipswich: Lee-Barrett, Cresswell, Ingimarsson, Collins, Edwards, Bowyer (Emmanuel-Thomas 46), Andrews, Bullard, Kennedy (Carson 46), Chopra, Murphy (Scotland 38)

Subs Not Used: Cropper, Sonko

Booked: 0

Possession: 63% Burnley, 37% Ipswich Town (Source: BBC Sport)

Ref: Nigel Miller (Durham)

This was an excellent team performance albeit against a very poor opposition. You can only play against what`s put in front of you though and Burnley stuck to their task and in the end completely dominated this game in all departments. The defence was troubled little all night but when called upon to do their stuff, they did so adequately. Kieran Trippier in particular impressed both defensively and down the flank. Two players who have struggled to make their mark in recent games also produced the goods last night; both Keith Treacy and Junior Stanislas putting in a solid, effective performance. Our attack was also sharp, Vokes and Rodriguez looking a threat throughout the match with both getting on the score-sheet. The fans texted man of the match though was Chris McCann, who looked much more effective charging forward in this match and of course he was rewarded with a brace of goals. McCann therefore also picks up our Star Player award.

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