Burnley 1 Ipswich Town 2

DAVID Norris showed his worth to Ipswich by scoring one goal and making another in this Championship fixture at sunny Turf Moor on Saturday.

Town kept up their good away form with three deserved points where they impressed in many areas of the game.

Skipper Norris, who has two good offers to leave Portman Road in the summer after the club let his contract run out, put Town ahead in the 17th minute with Connor Wickham netting his seventh goal of the season seven minutes later.

Burnley improved considerably after the interval and Jay Rodriguez slammed home a smart goal in the 69th minute.

Town made one change from the team that beat Scunthorpe 2-0 at home in their previous fixture – before the recent two-week international break.

This was enforced because Martin was starting a two-match suspension. Scotland came in to take his place up front on his own against a Burnley side needing the points to keep up their challenge for an immediate return to a Premier League they left last May.

On the bench Blues manager Paul Jewell made no surprises with Civelli back in favour and Dyer passed fit enough to be included. Hyam was 19th man, and he warmed up in the sunshine prior to the kick-off in front of Town fans in the David Fishwick stand.

With only pride, and to secure a place in Jewell’s thoughts for next season to play for, Ipswich are left to complete their final fixtures – with seven left after today’s match.

It was a breezy day in the north west with home fans in good heart as they look for their team to push on up the table.

Town failed to make the most of a throw-in by the corner flag in the 10th minute and the ball quickly made its way to the opposite end of the field where Rodriguez set up Wallace for a free shot at goal that he blasted wide from 10 yards.

In the 17th minute skipper Norris showed his worth to Town when he slotted home his 10th goal of the season to go top scorer.

Scotland won a Town’s first corner and from Bullard’s kick to beyond the far post, McAuley headed the ball back into the middle where Wickham failed to get a touch but Norris followed up to thread a low left-foot, side-foot through friend and foe alike to end up in the back of the net.

Two minutes later after Carson won a free-kick, Bullard’s cross was sent over the bar by Scotland as he ran in to make contact five yards out and right in front of goal.

Ipswich did go further ahead in the 24th minute with a picture goal – even if the finish was a bit fortunate.

Norris received from Carson and played a defence-splitting one-two with Scotland before crossing from the right where Wickham headed down. The bounce took the ball slowly over the stretching finger tips of Grant and just under the bar.

Tackles were flying in from both sides with the referee busy and the visitors in charge with Carson impressing on the right flank.

Yellow cards started to be shown at regular intervals with Bikey perhaps lucky to stay on after bringing down Norris as the midfielder went to go clear. A covering defender probably saved a red card from a referee looking ready to boil over and not making life easy for himself!

Lee-Barrett made his first save in the 53rd minute when substitute Iwelumo headed down a cross from the left and skipper Marney sent in an 18 yard volley that the keeper held to his left.

Two minutes later – with Burnley fans now right behind their team – Eagles cut in from the right and McAuley managed to clear from inside the six-yard box.

Burnley scored in the 69th minute when the ball broke after a tackle by Kennedy enabling Marney to play a square pass to Rodriguez. The number 19 scored emphatically with a strong right-foot shot to Lee-Barrett’s left from 20 yards.

A minute later and good play by Edwards led to Scotland setting up Norris for a 15 yard left-foot shot that Grant did well to tip over.

Ipswich saw the game out comfortably.

Teams

Burnley: Grant; Mears, Bikey, Duffy, Easton; Eagles (Elliott 67), Marney, Bartley (Alexander 75), Wallace (Iwelumo 37); Delfouneso, Rodriguez. Substitutes: Jensen, Edgar, Carlisle, Duff.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett; Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy; Carson (Dyer 79), Bullard, Norris, Leadbitter, Wickham; Scotland (Drury 73). Substitutes: Fulop, Peters, O’Dea, Civelli, Healy.

Referee: Mr T Kettle (Rutland)

Attendance: 14,483

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FULL MATCH FACTS BURNLEY v IPSWICH TOWN

Marks

Burnley: Grant 7; Mears 6, Bikey 7, Duffy 6, Easton 6; Eagles 5, Marney 7, Bartley 6, Wallace 6; Delfouneso 6, Rodriguez 7.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett 6; Edwards 7, McAuley 8, Delaney 8, Kennedy 7; Wickham 7, Bullard 6, Norris 8, Leadbitter 6, Carson 7; Scotland 6.

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STATS

Burnley 1

Goals: Rodriguez 69

Bookings: Wallace 30, Bikey 44, Delfouneso 78.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 3

Shots off target: 4

Woodwork: -

Corners: 3

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 16

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Ipswich Town 2

Goals: Norris 17, Wickham 24

Bookings: Wickham 42, McAuley 43, Norris 45, Lee-Barrett 57,

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 6

Woodwork: -

Corners: 4

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 9