Photos: Burnley 2, Leeds United 1

Clarets boss Sean Dyche made the enforced change of Ashley Barnes for Danny Ings after the club’s leading scorer limped off injured following a collision in the 3-3 draw against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s midweek.

Meanwhile, Leeds boss Brian McDermott obviously saw the joy that imposing strikers Lee Novak and Nikola Zigic alongside Federico Macheda brought to Brum in the latter stages and replicated their tactics by including trio Ross McCormack, Matt Smith and Connor Wickham in his starting XI.

It was no surprise, therefore, that the Clarets were forced to endure a direct, airbourne, and physical assault from their opponents as they bid to stop the rot of five Championship outings without a win, which included nine goals shipped in their previous outings against Bolton and Reading.

Ross Wallace, who retaining his place over Michael Kightly, forced the first shot on goal when cutting infield from the right and fizzing an effort comfortably wide of Jack Butland’s upright from the angle of the penalty area.

Soon after, a fantastic piece of improvisation saw Dean Marney force a foul from Danny Pugh with a stunning reverse nutmeg at the byeline, but David Jones was wasteful with the resulting kick which dropped wide of the far post.

The away side were powerful in the challenge, maybe slightly over-exuberant at times, but it severely tested their hosts and it was Pugh’s challenge on Wallace that carved an opening for the visitors as McCormack threaded a pass in to Smith who forced Tom Heaton to save low to his left.

With 24 goals in all competitions this term, McCormack doesn’t need an invitation to score but he was gifted a chance when Jones’s loose pass sent him clear on goal but, like Jordan Rhodes in the derby last weekend, his clipped effort over the keeper came back off the post.

However, the Scot made no mistake with his next opportunity when Wickham’s throw was glanced in to the box by Smith and the Championship’s leading scorer, from an almost static position, powered a delightful header across Heaton and in to the top corner.

Burnley continued to scrap, and Barnes almost found the equaliser from Kieran Trippier’s crisp assist after Wallace’s corner had found the full back unmarked outside the box, but the former Brighton hitman headed over.

Up to that point the fixture had been played out to the away side’s strengths, but the Clarets forced the leveller when returning to their own style of play which exposed United’s defensive frailties.

With McDermott committing many forward, it was Marney who dropped a perfect pass in to the space behind Pugh, Trippier made the run and crossed to the near post before Pearce applied the touch to turn the ball between the legs of Butland.

After the break, the Clarets continued from where they left off, though they were forced to mix it up to negate United’s physicality.

The hosts started to find feet, with the ball sticking for them, particularly through Barnes’s endeavour as the striker made the difference in the second half.

After Wallace scuffed an effort wide once Arfield and Jones had combined, the winger was replaced by Junior Stanislas. Then, with the ascendency moving in to the home side’s favour, an intricate move involving Marney, Barnes and Vokes manipulated the pockets of space in the Leeds defence with Pugh pressured in to diverting Arfield’s driven cross wide of the near post.

Alex Mowatt was then withdrawn, with Dominic Poleon introduced for Leeds, but moments later the Yorkshire side fell behind to Burnley’s first and only shot on target.

In the 67th minute, Stanislas held the ball long enough to find Ben Mee on the overlap and the defender’s cross was turned in at the second attempt by Arfield - who also scored in the reverse fixture at Elland Road earlier in the season.

Dyche’s side refused to rest on their laurels, as has been the case all term, and had Vokes spotted Stanislas in acres of space sooner the Clarets could’ve had a third. However, the Welshman delayed his pass, the visitors were able to get men behind the ball, and the substitute eventually fired wide.

Barnes then flicked a header wide at the back post from a Stanislas centre, while Butland headed over with the keeper venturing upfield for a corner, but the Clarets held on for maximum points to open up a 10 point gap over promotion rivals Derby County and QPR.

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