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Stan was forced to make one change for the game. Neil Wood, injured in training, was forced to make way for Paul Weller, given preference in front of loanee Bradley Orr, otherwise it was as had played at Millwall last week.
Ipswich, with only two wins in their last nine, were looking to get their promotion run back on the rails after the long trek from Suffolk, were very much at full strength and with the unpopular Diallo in their ranks, were, as expected from a team lying fourth, going to make a game of it.
Clarets though were to belie their lowly position with some good, neat football, the overall quality of which made it difficult to determine the team from the top and that from t' other end ot' table and the home side should have been in front after only five minutes.
Blake, in his dapper white boots, stepped over Little's inviting low cross leaving Weller to pick his spot from fifteen yards, but his poor left footer was matched by an equally poor right footed follow up and Davis was able to make a scrambled double save, when in truth he should have been picking the ball out after goal number one.
One time Claret target Kuqi evened up on the bad miss front, when, after beating Chaplow for sheer strength, his run into the area saw him then overrun the ball and his frustration was evident at his miscontrol as the chance passed by.
The game in its early stages was tight with both sides content to retain possession if not threaten either keeper, the centre midfield particularly congested, with only Clarets' Little as a wide man option.
If goals change games, then two goals most certainly change the pattern of a game and so it was as Clarets eased into a two goal lead, courtesy of poor marking in the back line of the Tractor Boys.
On twenty five minutes, Blake's superb threaded pass, ploughed a neat furrow through the Tractor Boys, setting up Weller who this time kept his composure to fire an angled drive at Davis who could only parry the shot which was met on the volley by the now free scoring Little, who finished with aplomb from eight yards, doubling his tally for the season in the process.
Two minutes later and two nil the score, Blake once again the provider. The white booted one floated over a corner and David May was on hand to head home unmarked from eight yards, his goal also his second of the season. Clarets scoring from a corner, when was the last time?
The balance of the game was changed completely and Joe Royle saw fit to surprisingly replace wing back Wilnis with Richards a move that ended Clarets problems Ipswich had been causing down Clarets left hand side with his overlapping runs.
Clarets balance and battling qualities in midfield denied Ipswich the time and space they were seeking nullifying most of their approach play, leaving only long range efforts as the threat which the Beast had to deal with, Miller's twenty five yarder the best of the of the optimistic efforts launched at the home goal.
Referee Dean in his redefining of the offence of foul saw fit to book McGregor, after poor play from Weller left the defender exposed. Mr Dean was having a bad day and saw good clean slide tackles by Moore and Grant as offences, much to the dismay of the locals.
Diallo saw his header at goal blocked by a team mate as Ipswich rallied before the break, but Mr Dean was at it again when taking the name of sub Richards, both sets of fans by now upset at his interpretation of a foul. HT 2-0.
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Blake's quick feet once again set up a chance, but the shot was deflected for a corner, before Little enjoyed a great run of old which ended in a powerful rising shot just past the angle drawing ooooh's from three sides of the ground.
On the hour, Counago could count himself fortunate to remain on the pitch, when first kicking the ball out of the hands of Jensen, then raising his arms, pushing May away in the follow up melee, the yellow card awarded the least he could expect.
A minute on and the Proclaimers were blasting around the ground once again in tribute to Chaplow's fine volley from the edge of the area, Davis like all others, a mere spectator to the fine shot from Clarets rising star.
Kuqi was withdrawn in favour of Reuser, but it was the Clarets who continued to dominate. Quite how Mr Dean did not see the foul on Little as a penalty is anyone's guess, the tackle on the in full-flight winger was a bang to rights decision.
Yet instead of celebrating four-nil it became three-one, as within a minute, Westlake's low shot on the turn squirmed under an embarrassed Jensen pulling the Tractor Boys back into a game they looked out of.
The goal celebrations were muted to say the least and for the first time in my experience, neither players nor fans celebrated a goal, the subdued nature of the goal very strange indeed.
Clarets rallied and Davis made a good save diving low to his right keeping Chaplow's low shot out after good work from Moore set up the chance. Davis struggled to deal with Blake's driven free kick half way through the half as Clarets tried to put the game beyond the visitors, who were by now applying more pressure to the home side and beginning to pin Clarets back in their own half.
Quarter of an hour from time and Clarets were guilty of overplaying it in a superb counter attack, that saw Blake, Little and Moore against only two defenders. Blake set up Little, who rather than shoot when well placed, squared the ball to Moore who failed to get his shot in from eight yards, preferring an unnecessary touch before shooting allowing Davis to smother and the glorious chance was wasted.
Orr replaced Weller for the last fifteen and Counago's blast was well blocked by McGregor as Clarets rearguard continued to thwart the Tractor Boys final push for consolation.
Whilst Clarets defended well in the final stages, many players looked tired and two minutes from time 3-2 became an agonising score line, Mr Dean once again dubious in his award of a free kick on the line of the "D" contributing greatly top a nervy few final minutes.
Reuser picked his spot, curled over the wall from twenty yards and Jensen stayed rooted to his spot setting up an intense finale in the games final five minutes.
Richards hit the outside of the post, with Jensen's positioning once again at fault, Bent headed straight at the Beast and Magilton shot straight at the big man as Ipswich piled forwards, before Clarets sealed the game in the second minute of injury time.
Chaplow’s ball from the half way line put Little clear of the last line of Ipswich's tattered defence and his surging run of fifty yards ended with a squared ball to the far post where Blake was on hand to sweep home from eight yards, the 4-2 score line a much better reflection of the game.
Cue the final whistle and the ovation was fully merited as Clarets unbeaten League run in 2004 extended to five games. FT 4-2.
Att:- 11,343.
Star Gazer
Ian Moore. Another shotless game from a striker clearly lacking in confidence and ideas. Clarets need to provide a striking option for the struggling one now without a League goal in seven games.
Beer Money
Ipswich's fans may deride a crowd of 11,343 , but at least Clarets settle their debts at the rate of 100p in the pound, though it is disappointing not to see more walk on fans turning up at the Turf particularly when recent performances deserve much better.
Star Geezer
There were many fine performances, not least those of Richard Chaplow and Glen Little, but my vote goes to David May. Another solid display of central defensive work and alongside Mark McGregor, the pair formed a sold barrier in front of Jensen, but May's overall work rate, contribution and close marking gives him the overall nod in another flawless performance.
Champagne Tastes
The pre-match position may well have been a lowly one, but with the midfield playing as well as it did, where all four played to their respective strengths, few teams are going to enjoy a trip to Turf Moor currently. The team overall really is playing well and on this kind of form, First Division football should be a given for next season and more fans should surely heed the call, part with their hard earned cash and enjoy the spectacle on offer.