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Having suffered defeat in the first two home games of the season, Burnley put things right this afternoon with a 4-3 victory over Ipswich Town at Leyland although only just getting over the line as Ipswich fought back.

The first time I ever saw a game between Burnley and Ipswich was the first ever meeting between the two clubs in August 1961. By the following May they’d pipped us to the title but that first home game of the season ended in a 4-3 win for us with us four times having to go in front to win the game.

It all ended with the same scoreline this afternoon but it was a close finish that really shouldn’t have happened with us leading 3-0 at half time and then 4-1 within the last ten minutes of the game.

Today at Leyland was very much a day for Clarets past, present and future. Chris Brass and David Eyres were both in the stand with Andy Farrell and John McGreal in opposite dug outs. On the pitch were three players getting debuts for Burnley, the recent signings Denis Franchi, Alex Healy-Byrne and Marcel Lewis.

Everything started so well for us and we were in front with less than five minutes gone when Dara Costelloe finished well with a shot from the corner of the box after being set up by Joe McGlynn.

It was proving to be an entertaining first half. They had some opportunities with Franchi making one good save to tip a shot over the bar, but we always looked the more likely and the lively Lewis was not the only Burnley player to test Ipswich goalkeeper Woody Williamson.

Generally, we had been the better team but two goals in the final few minutes of the half probably gave us a flattering three goal advantage at half time. Ne-Jai Tucker (pictured) got the second with a simply brilliant strike from the edge of box and into injury time, Joe McGlynn got his name on the scoresheet after nicking the ball off the goalkeeper and finishing well.

The second half started like the first with an early goal at the Brian Pilkington Stand end. Ipswich got into our box on their right and Gerard Buabo fired into the bottom corner although it did seem that Franchi had got a touch to it.

It led to a scrappy half with little good football. It got niggly too but the referee, who seemed to want to stop the game far too often, didn’t help. Both teams might have scored and Franchi made an excellent stop low down to his left from a free kick.

It didn’t look as though we were hanging on though and, in any case, we got a fourth with nine minutes remaining. Tucker saw his shot blocked from an Owen Dodgson cross but hit home the rebound for his second goal of the game.

Incredibly, Ipswich came back. Matt Ward pulled one back with a spectacular effort with six minutes remaining and then, into stoppage time they got a third when Jesse Nwabueze scored. Now we were hanging on and did so, although it took an outstanding save from Franchi to deny them an equaliser.

Finally, after four minutes of stoppage time, it was all over, a first home win of the season and some good football played although we should never have allowed Ipswich to get anything like so close.

The teams were;

Burnley: Denis Franchi, Alex Healy-Byrne (Will Hugill 75), Dan Sassi, Finn Armstrong, Owen Dodgson, Marcel Lewis (Kade Ratchford 64), Mark Helm (Jacson Coppack 75), Joe Bauress, Ne-Jai Tucker, Dara Costelloe, Joe McGlynn. Subs not used: Lewis Thomas, Dane McCullough.

Ipswich: Woody Williamson, Edwin Agbaje, Brooklyn Kabongolo, Cameron Stewart, Max Hudson, Fraser Alexander, Albie Armin, Matt Ward, Callum Page (Gerard Buabo 25), Zanda Siziba (Jack Manly 83), Harley Curtis (Jesse Nwabueze 75). Sub not used: Danny Cullum.

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