Burnley continued their fantastic start to the season at the expense of Ipswich Town on Saturday thanks to a goal from makeshift defender Chris McCann.  Way back in the 1991/1992 season, the first 16 games fruited 34 points, our best every start to a season in terms of points gained, and the Clarets sat third in the Barclays Fourth Division. 

15 year later and we are just three points off that tally, the 31 points picked up so far leading Steve Cotterill’s team into third in the Championship, just two behind leaders Cardiff.  It all sets up for a good game next Saturday when we meet the Bluebirds at Ninian Park, where a Burnley win would send the Clarets top of the table should Preston fail to beat Southend.

With John McGreal still out, Foster suspended and Wayne Thomas not fit enough to start the pre match discussions were all about what team Cotterill would pick.  The one I heard most was Mahon coming in on the left, Jones switching out to the right and Elliott dropping back into right back.  I personally though Micah Hyde would deputise in full back, being replaced by Mahon in the centre.  Some people even suggested that John Spicer could get a game. 

In the end the player that came into the side was one that not many would have suspected.  Young midfielder Chris McCann was announced over the tannoy as being in the starting lineup and took his place at centreback alongside Michael Duff, with the rest of the team staying as it was for Luton on Tuesday night other than the welcome return of Gifton Noel-Williams in place of Kyle Lafferty.

Cotterill announced after the game that he had only ever seen McCann play at the back once before, in a practise match between the first team and the youth team when he first took the Turf Moor reigns, but went with the Irishman ahead of some of the other candidates so that the rest of the team would keep its shape.

“The only time I have seen him play centre half was when we played a practice game against the youth team just after I came to Burnley. He marked Robbie Blake and Ian Moore that day and was excellent and I just thought putting him in there today would save me putting a right back to centre half, a right winger to right back and a substitute on the right wing.”

There was a familiar face in the Ipswich side for anyone that has an interest in Accrington Stanley.  Scouser Gary Roberts was in Jim Magilton’s starting lineup for the first time since signing for the Blues on loan last month- the left winger having impressed for the Reds in their first season in League Two after helping them to promotion from the Conference last season.

The visitors started the game the brightest and were managing to pass the ball around well and keep position which was beginning to frustrate Burnley who just couldn’t get the ball.  When we did have the ball, the visitors crowded midfield which made it difficult for us to produce anything other than a long punt upfield to the strikers.  Some of the passing moves that Ipswich produced was very pleasing on the eye but despite their early domination, they failed in the final third, with Chris McCann and the rest of the defence coping easily with Alan Lee and co.

The Clarets first meaningful attack of the game came just under the half hour mark and it looked as though Chris McCann would mark his return to the team with a goal against his former Home Farm team-mate, Rookie Goalkeeper Shane Supple.  Frank Sinclair sent a deep cross into a crowded penalty area, and a flap from young goalkeeper Supple found it’s way to McCann but he found Simon Walton and Richard Naylor in his path and the two managed to block his powerful strike and the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

The last 15 minutes of the first half saw Burnley slowly find their way into the game and Andy Gray and Steve Jones both managed to get shots away but the two teams eventually went in at half time on level pegging and it looked as though the game had nil-nil written all over it.

Five minutes into the second half and half the Burnley fans thought Steve Jones had given the Clarets the lead, but the winger’s shot agonisingly ran wide by an inch.  Jones was hungry for a goal, though, and was soon to test Supple with a powerful effort from the left, but the shot fired straight at the rookie keeper, Jones could really have taken a few more touches and got closer into goal before shooting, as he was given lots of space in the box.  Burnley had control of the game now, but Alan Lee still found time to force a save from Brian Jensen.  Simon Walton also forced the big Dane into making a save, his 30 yard effort being tipped round the post for a corner.

Gary Roberts was keen to impress on his return to East Lancashire but often his tricks and flicks were often too much and ended up in Burnley gaining possession.  He thought he had got the opening goal with not long to go, however, receiving the ball from Alan Lee in the penalty area before unleashing a low drive into the bottom far corner of the Burnley goal, the linesman thought otherwise, however, ruling the goal offside- I must admit that I thought the linesman got it wrong on that occasion, however I shall not complain as it kept Burnley in the game although with not long to go it looked ever likely that we would again drop points at home.

John Spicer managed to get into the field for the first time this season and looked hungry to impress and forced a corner as his long range shot was blocked by the defence.  As the fourth official signalled three minutes of added time my mate said was so convinced that we would not win that he promised me a pound if we scored.  20 seconds later he was a pound out of pocket as Chris McCann sent the Turf wild with a dramatic winner. 

Duff took a corner short into Alan Mahon, who cleverly turned and crossed to the far post- where McCann was running in to head into the back of the net to complete a fantastic game for the makeshift defender.  He had coped admirably at the back all game and after having his first half effort blocked, the late goal was more than he deserved.

There was still time for the gloss to be taken off the win as Micah Hyde was shown a second yellow by the card friendly Phil Joslin but with Alan Mahon ready to fill in he should not be missed too much.