Ipswich Town 0 Burnley 0

IPSWICH Town were level against Burnley after an entertaining first 45 minutes of Saturday afternoon’s Championship game at Portman Road.

Town made three changes from the side that won 3-1 at Middlesbrough in the opening day of the season.

Carlos Edwards and Mark Kennedy dropped out through injury while Jon Walters was dropped after informing manager Roy Keane that he wants to leave Portman Road.

He has been stripped of the captaincy and relations between player and manager have become strained with the player set to move – probably to Stoke – soon.[.

In came Shane O’Connor to play at left-back with Jon Stead earning a start after impressing in the 3-2 after extra time Carling Cup win at League One Exeter City on Tuesday.

Andros Townsend made his Blues debut after signing on a season-long loan from Tottenham during the week. He wore the number 17 shirt and began on the left of midfield.

Relegated from the Premier League last season after one year in the top flight, Burnley were without the injured Tyrone Mills. They had won just twice away from home in the previous 17 months.

Inside the opening five minutes, Priskin had a close range effort blocked and a near-post shot that he blazed well over. But Burnley looked dangerous on the counter attack with the plan appearing to be to put pressure on left back O’Connor.

In his bright yellow boots, newcomer Townsend was busy wide in a three-pronged Town attack, and he dragged a 12th minute shot wide of the far post as the home team continued to look sharp.

Fulop was already having more to do than at Middlesbrough, and when Smith played Wallace onside, the pass across goal presented Elliot with a wonderful opportunity unmarked in front of goal. Fulop was up to his task rushing across goal and making a stunning block.

In the 32nd minute, a Burnley free-kick deflected off the Ipswich wall and when Townsend failed to clear, Iwelumo hooked a bouncing ball well over from six yards.

Three minutes later a raking pass by Stead found Townsend on the right and his low cross from the by-line ran across the six-yard box with Edgar clearing off the line from Stead’s angled effort from beyond the far post.

Townsend was impressing with his runs down either flank, and after more good work in the 44th minute led to Fox clearing nervously as Peters homed in for the kill. Half-time:

Ipswich 0 Burnley 0