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The long wait is over
The goals that won it for us, one each for the two strikers Gifton Noel-Williams and Andy Gray, came with not much more than twenty minutes left on the clock, but they were no more than we deserved and a late deflected effort from David Healy served only to give a final scored that flattered Leeds.
They introduced Middlesbrough centre half Ugo Ehiogu for his debut whilst up front they had the former Burnley duo of Robbie Blake and Ian Moore. As for us, Steve Cotterill made a number of changes. Danny Coyne replaced Brian Jensen for his first game since September of last year, John McGreal returned with Wayne Thomas moving to full back at the expense of Stephen Foster, and Wade Elliott was back for Chris McCann after missing out against Birmingham.
It was very noticeable early in the game that for once a former Blackburn player was going to get away scott free from the Burnley fans, I can't recall any abuse aimed at the rather overweight looking Jonathan Douglas as the home fans reserved most of their vitriol for Blake, presumably Moore wasn't considered a big enough threat to warrant any comment.
Leeds probably had the first chance of the game, it fell to Moore, but the fifteen goals a season striker wasn't able to get to it as Coyne faced his first piece of action. That wasn't a pointer for the rest of the half, they didn't trouble us again, and most of the action was down the other end of the pitch.
Gifton put a header wide, and Wade had a shot that just missed the target, but then we started to test the keeper. He saved a James O'Connor shot following a free kick and then saved from Steve Jones going down to his left.
Jones was giving them all sorts of trouble and Hayden Foxe became the first name in the referee's book after one foul on the Burnley wide man right in front of the Longside. Foxe was to regret that booking early in the second half.
Twice Jones cut in and got in shots, the first was curling but went narrowly wide, the second tested the somewhat erratic Stack in goal. He was saving things but giving the Clarets real encouragement by not holding a lot of the shots. He did well though to get down to his right to keep out a Jon Harley free kick.
Half time came without a goal, but there was no doubting who were the better side, apart from a few typical moves from Blake, and that early chance for Moore, it had been all Burnley and we were only a goal or two short from it having been a good first half showing.
Neither side made any changes for the second half, but that changed just seven minutes in. Elliott played the ball inside for Gray as Foxe moved in to challenge, but the Leeds defender slipped and instinctively, whilst on the ground, pushed the ball away from Gray with his hand.
It was a clear yellow card, and he had to go, no matter what the obnoxious whinging little man in the technical area had to say. Foxe knew it and set off for the tunnel even before the cards came out.
Down to ten men, it now needs a tactical genius to sort things out, so off came their most likely player Blake and on came a player who spent all his career in the lower divisions Tresor Kandol. No, I'm still trying to work it out, but the Burnley fans loved it when the number 28 was held up and waved the former Claret a fond farewell.
Steve Cotterill also made a change, introducing Chris McCann for a largely disappointing Micah Hyde and things seemed to pick up. It was just a matter of whether we could get a goal or not and finally we did just that. It was no surprise that it came from yet another left wing attack from Jonah, he got in his cross, it was knocked out just a few yards by Heath and Gifton made no mistake with a right foot shot.
It was if the pressure was off and we poured forward again, and we didn't have long to wait for goal number two. McCann and the again impressive Jimmy O worked the ball and got it to Thomas. The full back played the ball into Gray in the box with his back to goal, but he turned to his left and placed the ball into the bottom corner for his first goal since the win at Luton four weeks ago.
Leeds threw on the experienced Geoff Horsfield and David Healy, they replaced the totally ineffective Eddie Lewis and the other former Claret Moore whose only real contribution was struggling to control the ball and kicking it into his own face.
It made no difference and more than once we could have added a third goal. Then out of the blue they pulled one back. A long cross field ball found Healy out wide on the right and he moved into the box before hitting a shot that looped up off Jon Harley's boot and in it went.
Suddenly the relaxed atmosphere changed to one of nervous tension and things got worse when Andy Gray had to go off with what looked like a serious injury. Thankfully Leeds didn't really press and Jones should have put the game beyond doubt when he broke clear only to shoot straight at Stack.
That left just one anxious moment when Leeds won themselves a free kick just a few yards outside the box. Blake couldn't take it, he'd gone off, neither could Lewis, he'd gone off as well (wonderful management) so it was left to Healy and his shot was blocked. Seconds later referee Phil Dowd blew the final whistle, just as he did two years ago at Elland Road to signal a 2-1 win.
Anything other than a win would have been a rank injustice, this Burnley side is streets ahead of Leeds, who are now back in that bottom three with Hull and Southend. Needless to say Wise ranted, but he turned on the referee who really had no options with the two yellow cards he gave Foxe. Dowd turned in a very good performance last night, and there would be no real complaints if all referees performed like that every game.
But who performed well for Burnley? Steve Jones got the sponsor's man of the match award and I won't disagree with them, he turned in another eye catching performance. But for my choice I'm heading back on the pitch to the centre of our defence. Michael Duff was in excellent form again but so was the player alongside him John McGreal.
It is six weeks since Johnny Mac was substituted against Southend with a knee injury, you would have thought he'd never been away as he turned in a near faultless display. It's fantastic to have him back again, and he was my pick.
We needed that win after three defeats, and with Preston and Cardiff picking up just one point between them it leaves us closer to the top of the league.
And we beat Leeds, and it was well worth waiting for.
The teams were;
Burnley: Danny Coyne, Wayne Thomas, Michael Duff, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (Alan Mahon 86), James O'Connor, Micah Hyde (Chris McCann 62), Steve Jones, Gifton Noel-Williams, Andy Gray (Kyle Lafferty 89). Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Stephen Foster.
Leeds: Graham Stack, Hayden Foxe, Ugo Ehiogu, Matt Heath, Stephen Crainey, Jonathan Douglas, Shaun Derry, Ian Westlake, Eddie Lewis (David Healy 72), Ian Moore (Geoff Horsfield 72), Robbie Blake (Tresor Kandol 55). Subs not used: Tony Warner, Sebastien Carole.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).
Attendance: 15,061.