Burnley stalwart Duff delighted to end his search for a goal

Clarets defender Michael Duff was delighted to end his 15-month wait for a goal at Birmingham on Wednesday night.
Dancing duff: Clarets defender Michael Duff celebrates his first goal since Boxing Day 2012Dancing duff: Clarets defender Michael Duff celebrates his first goal since Boxing Day 2012
Dancing duff: Clarets defender Michael Duff celebrates his first goal since Boxing Day 2012

The 36-year-old, in his 10th season with the club, headed his eighth - and best - goal for Burnley to make it 2-1.

But Birmingham came back three times on the night to claim a point, netting an injury time equaliser.

Duff said: “I don’t score many so they’re all good ones!

“It was a good ball from Tripps (Kieran Trippier).

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“I felt it’s been coming. I’ve been pretty close in the last couple of weeks, getting on the end of things and putting them nowhere near.

“It’s nice to finally stick one in.

“It would be nice if it was the winner, it would have meant a little bit more.

“But I’m not really bothered about scoring goals. It’s nice when they come along but I’d rather a 1-0 win.”

Central defensive partner Jason Shackell also found the net at Blackburn on Sunday, while midfield duo David Jones and Dean Marney have also been on target of late.

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Danny Ings and Sam Vokes may have 44 goals between them, but the rest of the side are chipping in: “It’s important. We can’t rely on the front two and Barnesy when he’s coming on at the minute.

“It’s important we chip in from other areas.

“It’s something that me and Shacks have actually spoken about.

“We’ve been disappointed that - up until the last few weeks we’ve not really done it.

“He scored a goal at Derby earlier in the season.

“It’s something we’ve discussed, but it’s easy talking about, it’s not that easy heading it in.”

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Burnley have an eight-point cushion in the automatic promotion places ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Leeds.

But Duff feels the side can use the frustration of being pegged back at Birmingham in their favour: “It’s important to recognise the feeling of disappointment at the end of the game, and take it into Saturday.

“Sometimes you can come off the pitch and forget about it.

“But it’s onto the next, it’s Leeds, it’s home - we’re not bad at home and we’ll be looking to go and win the game.

“If we go and beat Leeds it makes Wednesday’s point all the more valuable.”