The cheek of it! Burnley’s slick, quick, whizz kids, impudent yet unblushing, gave First Division leaders Leeds United their biggest thrashing for two years, winning an exhilarating Turf Moor match handsomely to bring their goals total to 15 in four successive wins by 3-1, 3-1, 4-0 and 5-1. The title hopes of Leeds looked rather comical as the flood gates to their goal were opened at speed by sheer football ability, and the Burnley youngsters, average age 22, rammed in as many goals in an hour as Leeds had conceded in their previous SEVEN league matches.
This must rank as one of the most astonishing results in any match this season. Burnley had not only survived their acid test, they had positively thrived on it, roasting not only their opponents, but also the club’s heavy corps of critics. Don Revie took the shock setback very sportingly and said “Burnley have a great young team here. They played very well, deserved the win, and all I can say is that they were a revelation.”
It was a real team effort, but the flashing sword thrusts of Ralph Coates, the dynamic, accurate long ball promptings of David Thomas, and the steady work of the third midfield man, Martin Dobson, wielded the execution blows. Leeds blamed the suspect goalkeeping of Gary Sprake, but he was not, by any means, the only player to have an off day. The Elland Road outfit were cut to ribbons, never established a midfield grip, and finished up utterly demoralised while the kids of Burnley, as precious as they are precocious so insolent and disrespectful to their elders in opposition, walked off to a thunderous ovation.
Leeds looked a beaten team as early as the 21st minute. By that time, Burnley were 2-0 up. Sprake looked at fault with the first as a shot from Coates seemed to bounce over his body. He would also have nightmares about the second goal two minutes later, for a centre from Coates passed over his head to Casper who nodded in from under the bar. Never-say-die skipper Bremner pulled a goal back before another mix-up in the Leeds defence allowed Murray to nip in to score a real soft one. In the 77th minute, Giles launched a free kick into the area, Blant headed away and Murray took possession, raced forward and released Kindon into an almost deserted Leeds half. The 17 year old still had a lot to do, but he flew past the tenacious Reaney, rode one further tackle before releasing a power drive past Sprake. Casper scored his second in the 80th minute when he used his left foot to lift the ball over the badly positioned goalkeeper.
Report by Keith McNee

Final Score Burnley 5 Leeds United 1
Teams
Burnley: Thomson, Smith, Latcham, Dobson, Waldron, Blant, Thomas, Murray, Casper, Coates, Kindon. Sub Todd
Leeds: Sprake, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, O’Grady, Giles, Jones, Madeley, Gray. Sub Lorimer.
Ref: K Howley
Attendance 26,423