There's always a lot of interest in the final pre-season game; it is often thought that it gives a real clue as to what the starting line up might be. A year ago we started with the same eleven against Chelsea as had played in the last friendly and a year earlier it would have been the same but for the late departure of Charlie Austin to QPR which brought Sam Vokes into the team.
As it happens, we were always going to be without new signing Matt Lowton and Danny Lafferty today. Both have picked up injuries with after match discussions confirming Lowton's is a shin injury.
A couple of days ago I was told he would be out for a while but the diagnosis is not so bad and latest reports suggest he could be ready for Leeds next Saturday. His absence did give the home fans a first look at the latest signing Tendayi Darikwa
Whatever the team will be next week, and whoever will lead it as captain, it was only right and proper that the leading man today should be Duff. Going into his twelfth season with the club, this was his testimonial and he must be an inspiration to the younger players we have and certainly for those fighting their way back from long term injuries as he did so successfully seven years ago.
It was a good day all round, once I'd got there with my lift stuck in the M66 chaos for that long I even set off to walk down to the Turf.
Lukas Jutkiewicz, who is mirror imaging last year's pre-season in terms of goals, opened the scoring just past the half hour and with just over a quarter of an hour remaining it was a first ever Burnley goal for Matt Taylor that completed the win, and at the very end where he failed to score from the penalty last April against Leicester.
We started well and probably should have had an early goal. Both the strikers, Jutkiewicz and Jelle Vossen, came close, both forcing Ben Williams into saves.
There were one or two concerning moments at the back but generally the play was towards the Bradford City goal with Darikwa creating a very good early impression with some excellent runs down the flank, combining with George Boyd who himself looked brighter than he'd done all pre-season.
They played a part too when we did take the lead and it was fitting that Juke got it. Darikwa and Boyd linked yet again but Boyd looked to have run into a cul-de-sac before pulling away from goal and playing the ball out to Ben Mee on the left.
Mee pushed the ball on for Michael Kightly and his cross was met by Juke on the corner of the six yard box with his back to goal. He controlled the ball, turned and hit a low shot across Williams and into the far bottom corner.
It was very much a deserved lead and there was just to be one scare before half time when a Tony McMahon free kick hit the bar. It led to a scramble in the box with two Burnley players down but the ball out of the net.
A goal up at half time, there was no let up in the second half and, another McMahon free kick which was tipped over by Tim Heaton apart, it was really all Burnley.
Sean Dyche left the starting eleven on until 25 minutes from the end when he introduced Fredrik Ulvestad, Marvin Sordell and Sam Vokes but for Ulvestad it was to be a short stay. Within five minutes he'd suffered an ankle injury that has led to him going to hospital for a precautionary x-ray with Matt Taylor coming on.
The Norwegian midfielder got to the touchline and started his walk back to the dressing rooms but made only a few yards progress before the stretcher was called.
Meanwhile, his replacement was just about to ensure victory with our second. When we won a free kick on the edge of the Bradford box both he and Kightly moved towards the ball. To be honest I'm not so sure I've ever seen Kights do much with a free kick so suggested Taylor, who has scored plenty for his previous clubs, should have a go.
He was now up against his former Bolton and West Ham team mate Jussi Jaaskelainen and for once, and this is rare, I called it just right as Taylor hit his free kick straight into the net.
Vokes looked as though he'd missed a sitter but there was a quick realisation inside the ground that Jaaskelainen had saved it when his team mates went to congratulate him. I thought everyone would have seen that but referee Ben Toner, a somewhat whistle happy official at times, incredibly gave a goal kick.
There was just time for Duffo to get his standing ovation with Stephen Ward coming on and then we had a two minute cameo from Cameron Dummigan who, it was later confirmed, we are actively trying to get out on loan to give him some first team football experience.
A good day all round then; a win in the last pre-season game and a special day for a very special player who has served our club so well since he arrived in the summer of 2004 as Steve Cotterill's calculated risk.
I've been to eight pre-season games in Scotland, Wales, Derbyshire and goodness knows where else. I can have a break now before it all starts for real at Elland Road next Saturday.
The teams were;
Burnley: Tom Heaton, Tendayi Darikwa (Cameron Dummigan 90), Michael Duff (Stephen Ward 82), Michael Keane, Ben Mee, George Boyd, Scott Arfield, David Jones (Fredrik Ulvestad 65, Matt Taylor 71), Michael Kightly, Lukas Jutkiewicz (Sam Vokes 65), Jelle Vossen (Marvin Sordell 65). Subs not used: Matt Gilks, Luke O'Neill, Tom Anderson.
Bradford City: Ben Williams (Jussi Jaaskelainen ht), Stephen Darby (Gary Liddle 57), James Meredith Alan Sheehan 79), Josh Morris, Nathan Clarke, Tony McMahon, James Hanson (Steven Davies 76), Billy Knott (Mark Marshall 70), Billy Clarke Luke James 77), Christopher Routis, Rory McArdle. Subs not used: Greg Leigh, Luke Hendrie, Joel Grant, Dylan Mottley-Henry.
Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire).
Attendance: 4,825 (including 943 Bradford City fans).