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Steve Cotterill made three changes to the side that drew with Barnsley, replacing Alan Mahon, Ade Akinbiyi and the injured Steve Caldwell with Kyle Lafferty, Robbie Blake and David Unsworth.
Norwich arrived at the Turf managerless and desperately low on confidence after only managing one goal in their last seven games and not collecting any points along the way.
Still, they managed to force a corner within the first few seconds as Jordan put behind a Norwich attack straight from kick off. I remember thinking this wasn't a bad start for a team so low on confidence but then they showed me otherwise. The corner came to nothing as Lafferty collected the ball on the edge of his own box and set off on the run. The Norwich players had no answer to him as he surged into their half before picking out Wade Elliot. Wade seems to be recapturing some of last season's form as he ran at his man in the area before whipping in a perfect cross to the far post, where, who was lurking for the header? None other than Robbie Blake to score his first ever headed goal in Burnley colours.
What a start, this was just what we needed to settle us as we went in search of that elusive win. But then it was to get even better. Robbie collected the ball on the left and made his way into the area before being pulled down by Michael Spillane. Now, I'm still in last season's mind set in terms of penalties and didn't even bother to get excited at this point, especially as the penalty looked anything but nailed on from my view point. But, no, this is a new season, and referee Jones pointed to the spot.
With Gray, Blake, Unsworth and Alexander all on the pitch, the Clarets have come along way since allowing Gifton Noel-Williams to hit the St Peter's Centre with his penalty a couple of seasons ago. Up stepped Gray to send Marshall the wrong way and make it 2-0 before there were even four minutes on the clock.
Shortly after, the margin could have been even greater as Blake won the ball following a Burnley corner and was allowed to run, unchallenged, into the Norwich box. Unfortunately the angle was too narrow and Marshall was able to tip his shot around the post. The Clarets were flying and Norwich looked all at sea. You had to feel sorry for their fans, miles away from home on a freezing Tuesday night. I got over it though and looked forward to the rest of the game.
Norwich did come back into the game somewhat and prevented the Clarets from adding to their tally before half time. There were chances for both sides, one in particular producing a superb save from Gabor when ex Claret loanee Luke Chadwick found himself unmarked at the far post. Half time arrived and we looked forward to the Clarets attacking the home end and hopefully a comprehensive win.
The second half began with the Clarets again in the ascendancy with Blake and Lafferty linking up well in particular. Some were suggesting that this was the best they'd seen Robbie play since he returned to the club and I couldn't disagree. Every trick he tried, every pass he attempted seemed to pay off and Kyle was also looking dangerous on the left wing, using his strength and skill to cause the Norwich defence all kinds of trouble.
But the longer the half went on, the more Norwich came into the game and you did start to worry about not converting chances. Chris McCann was guilty in particular for blazing a shot over the bar from 8 yards when the ball fell to him following a corner. It was his weaker right foot though and he snatched at the shot somewhat.
Both teams made substitutions and one of the Norwich changes paid off as the heavyweight John Hartson picked out Brown in the box who made no mistake. Groans were heard around Turf Moor - those of the fans after the Clarets had yet again failed to keep a clean sheet and those of the earth beneath Hartson.
Had the Clarets put away their earlier chances, this Norwich goal would have only been a consolation but, as it was, we were now in for a nervy final twenty minutes. Alan Mahon, on for Robbie Blake, did almost create another for the Clarets but Lafferty somehow managed to miss a free header at the far post from Mahon's pinpoint cross. It was great work from Mahon and it really is great when you can replace the class of Blake with someone like Mahon from the bench.
The Clarets did manage to see out the game, thanks in no small part to Gabor Kiraly. Substitute Jamie Cureton found himself unmarked in the box with only minutes left on the clock and only had Gabor to beat. But our keeper showed just why he's so highly regarded by spreading himself at Cureton's feet and putting the ball behind for a corner. He then claimed the resultant cross and that was the last of the danger.
The most important thing was to get a win on the board and that was achieved but it was a disappointment to be hanging on at the end after being 2-0 up so soon. However, they do say you can score too early and perhaps Norwich used this to their advantage.
Still, there were many positives to come out of the game, besides the three points, namely Lafferty and Blake. It's a privilege to see Blake in Burnley colours when he's at his best and Lafferty continues to show why there's been so much speculation about him. If the midfield can just settle and continue to dominate games in the way McCann and Spicer did at Barnsley and at times last night, the future really does look promising.