Ings and Trips get 2014 off to Flying Start!

The Clarets moved back into the automatic promotion places and up to second after beating Huddersfield 3-2 in the New Year`s Day clash at Turf Moor. This was a thrilling and exciting game for the fans with thankfully the Clarets coming out tops. Two goals from former striker, Martin Paterson kept The Terriers in the game but a brace from Danny Ings and Kieran Trippier secured all three points for the Clarets to get 2014 off to a great start. Burnley now have 47 points from 24 goals but remain four points behind league leaders, Leicester who beat Millwall 3-1 at the New Den. Derby however surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to Wigan, their first defeat in ten games. They drop to fourth and remain on 44 points with QPR now above them in third on 46 points after a 2-1 home win over Doncaster.

Team Sheet

In the only change, Ben Mee made a welcome return to the side after being sidelined with a thigh strain and lined-up at left back to replace Danny Lafferty who returned to the bench. Michael Duff too was fit enough to play after limping off in the game away to Wigan six days earlier. Our line-up then looked like this:

Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Treacy, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Vokes, Ings

Subs: Cisak, Lafferty, Long, Edgar, Stock, Kightly, Stanislas

Full Match Report

It didn`t take long for the Clarets to show they meant business against a side they had been unable to defeat since their promotion back to the Championship in 2012. Three games and three defeats so far but they looked determined to avoid a fourth after taking an early lead in the 6th minute. It was David Jones who did all the hard work putting over a flighted ball from the left. With a square back line, there was a hint of offside as Ings pounced but the flag stayed down. Charging forward, Ings then slotted the ball home past Smithies to give the Clarets an early 1-0 lead. Burnley should have doubled their lead a few minutes later after some excellent approach work by former Huddersfield winger, Scott Arfield and hotshot striker, Danny Ings. Sam Vokes was neatly set-up but after his first touch, the second was too hurried and he skied his volley into the Cricket Field End and the thankful visiting fans! The Clarets were beginning to dominate with the Terriers yet to put together any meaningful attack. The Huddersfield defence were under pressure and when their back line failed to clear a ball from Trippier that found Vokes on the edge of the box, a goal looked on the cards after Arfield pounced only to shoot just off target. Annoyingly though, Huddersfield then equalised in their first attack of the half so far in the 20th minute. It was even more annoying for Clarets fans considering it was our former striker, Martin Paterson who got on the score sheet. The goal came from a corner by Adam Hammill. The blustery, rainy conditions were causing havoc and this time the ball seemed to get caught in the wind allowing Murray Wallace to eventually knock the ball down to find Paterson who made no mistake heading home from just four yards out. The Clarets responded well to the visitors` goal though and Jones nearly gave Burnley the lead back soon after. It was a square ball from Trippier in the 30th minute that set up Jones. Spinning on the edge of the box, the former Wigan midfielder curled the ball on target only to see Smithies dive to his right to pull off a spectacular save. It was Jones again six minutes later who this time came even closer to making it 2-1. Ings had been brought down 25yards out, and Jones curling free-kick looked to be on target until the ball hit the face of the crossbar and away to safety. By now though, the Clarets were beginning to dominate possession and finally four minutes before the break we got our noses in front again. A threaded pass from Marney found Trippier and the right back cut the ball back into the danger area. Ings controlling the ball on the right then unleashed a shot from 12 yards out that flew across the keeper into the back of the net to restore Burnley`s lead.

Burnley started the second half as they had finished the first, namely in control and looking to increase their lead further. Vokes might have been better attempting to charge forward himself instead of chesting the ball down from a Trippier cross which came to nothing. A last-ditch tackle following a break then prevented Arfield from giving Vokes another chance to score. Burnley looked certain to be the next team to score with Huddersfield clearly on the back foot and showing some desperate defence work at times. A shot by Marney was blocked and the lively midfielder then just failed to make contact on the ball following a cutback from Vokes. Burnley`s dominance continued and Ings should have got a hat-trick after latching onto the ball from an Arfield flick. He got his shot all wrong though and blazed the ball over the bar. That miss seemed to stir Huddersfield into action and all of a sudden Burnley were on the back foot. Dyche was forced into making a change when Mee, still struggling with injury was replaced by Lafferty and that seemed to give Mark Robins` side renewed hope. Heaton had to come to the rescue to deny Norwood after being teed up by the lively substitute Duane Holmes. His shot though was well-held by the keeper. Burnley however were still creating chances despite increased possession by the visitors. Ings hit the side netting after shooting from a narrow angle following an accurate through ball from Trippier. Clarets fans had been sweating a bit fearful of losing the lead again in view of Huddersfield`s sustained pressure but that worry evaporated when Trippier`s superb individual effort led to the third goal for the home side. Ings and Arfield were both involved in the build up with the ball eventually landing at Vokes feet. The Welshman lifted the ball over a confused defence allowing Trippier to pounce and race clear. The angle looked far too tight after touching the ball past the advancing Smithies but somehow he slotted home with the help of the crossbar to make it 3-1 to the Clarets. There was a sense of relief now around the ground in the home stands but still Huddersfield would not give up. Heaton had to get down low to superbly save a Paul Dixon effort. Ings nearly put the game beyond doubt though with full time approaching. A delivery from Trippier found Ings ideally placed but his header flew just wide of the far post with the keeper scrambling and well-beaten. Clarets fans though were given a nervy last few minutes when the visitors did finally pull a gaol back to make it 3-2 with just two minutes of normal time remaining. It was that man, Paterson again who did the damage after turning in Paul Dixon’s cross. Four minutes of added time were announced and almost immediately it looked like Burnley`s dream start to 2014 was about to evaporate! Tommy Smith from point-blank range at the far post looked certain to give the visitors a point but somehow he screwed his effort wide much to the relief of Clarets fans. At last the final whistle went and that was it our first win of 2014 at our first attempt!

Match Stats

Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee (Lafferty – 71), Treacy (Stanislas – 84), Marney (Stock – 84), Jones, Arfield, Vokes, Ings

Subs Not Used: Cisak, Edgar, Kightly, Long

Goals: Ings 6, 41 Trippier 79

Booked: Yellow Card for Marney (71)

Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Hammill (Scannell – 85), Dixon, Lynch (Gerrard – 25), Wallace, Smith, Hogg (Holmes – 52), Clayton, Ward, Paterson, Norwood

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Woods, Gobern, Stead

Goals: Paterson 20, 89

Booked: Yellow Cards for Wallace (39 mins) and Paterson (58 mins)

Possession: 41% Burnley, 59% Huddersfield (Source: BBC Sport)

Ref: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)