Burnley 4 - 2 Ipswich Town

Last updated : 24 February 2004 By Justin Johnson
Town boss Joe Royle choose to tinker with his team before the game, with Fabian Wilnis coming in for Matt Richards to play on the right, whilst former Burnley man Drissa Diallo switched to left back from the right back position he took up against Bradford.

Ipswich had pretty much the best of the early parts of the match, and really should have took the lead after just six minutes, but yet again Shefki Kuqi's shooting abillity let him down as he seemed to catch the ball with the wrong foot when he was about to shoot. Not the first time this season he's done that, but costly neverless.

On 26 minutes, Town went behind thanks to Glen Little meeting Wellers cross accross goal and turning it into the net giving blues keeper Kelvin Davis no chance to get to the finish.

Two minutes later it was to get worse for Town as Blake put in a corner for the Clarets which Shefki Kuqi should really have dealt with, but missed his header leaving former Premier League Championship winner David May a free header which he did not hesitate to put away.

Soon after Fabian Wilnis was withdrawn in favour of Matt Richards due to the Dutchman seeming to have a reaction to his shoulder injury, with Richards playing on the left hand side of defence and former Clarets man Diallo moving to the right side of defence.

Just before half time however, Town had the chance to get back in it, but Drissa Diallo could only direct his header straight at team-mate Richard Naylor. Soon after the whistle went for half time, and Town went into the interval 2-0 behind in a game many expected them to win.

Town emerged into the second half making one change to the side that finished the first half, Spanish top scorer Pablo Counago coming on to replace the out of sorts Drissa Diallo to create a three pronged strike force with Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent. Jermaine Wright moved to right back.

Counago seemed to have an instant impact on the side and had the ball in the net in the 50th minute after netting from a Jim Magilton free kick, however the linesman ruled the goal out for offside against Counago and team-mate Richard Naylor.

Pablo was involved once more soon again after appearing to divert Darren Bent's cross into the net, however referee Mike Dean judged the Spaniard to have took the ball out of Burnley keeper Brian Jensen's two hands and was very harshly booked for his troubles.

However on the hour the game looked dead and buried as far as Town were concerned after England Under-21 international Richard Chaplow put his team three up with an outstanding right-foot volley giving the Town keeper Davis no chance.

Shortly after the ineffective Kuqi who is surely missing far too many chances at key moments, was taken off as Joe Royle used his last throw of the dice by bringing Martijn Reuser on for the Finland striker.

Ipswich, very much second-best, suddenly found new life through Ian Westlake who scored his third in four games for Town to give them a fighting chance of coming away with some points.

Martijn Reuser then reduced the arrears to just one goal after firing in well struck free kick with just two minutes to go to set up a frantic finish.

Matt Richards hit a post as Burnley threatened to cave in, but Ternent's men kept their nerve for Robbie Blake to make the game safe in injury time with his 18th goal of the season.

Another poor peformance from Town ensured their unbeaten away record since the defeat at Sunderland in September went down the drain. Poor defending was once again very much in evidance, and Town can have no complaints at the result, having brought it all on themselves.

Despite the poor result for the blues they remain in 4th position, but the teams below them are now starting to bunch up together, and Town are now just four points ahead of 12th place and a result at home to Preston on Saturday is becoming very much needed.