Chalk this one down as another fine performance to match the many others that Burnley have achieved in this triumphant season. The Clarets moved within a point of Division 1 with another display which proves their indisputable right to be there. In a fiercely contested match punctuated with drama and excitement. Burnley showed the wide difference that separates them from the division’s strugglers. They were always in control and had that extra skill and know-how when it mattered. Burnley’s following were treated to two well-engineered goals, a heroic full back display by substitute Billy Ingham, and a total team performance that was virtually without fault.
In trying to tackle James, Huddersfield full back, Hutt, crashed to the ground, injured his shoulder, and had to leave the field. Burnley took full advantage of the situation and set up two superb moves down the right wing to settle the match in the space of 13 minutes. The first, after 61 minutes was superbly put away by Frank Casper, but much of the credit must go to Martin Dobson. Burnley doubled the lead in the 74th minute. Ingham made a marvellous run down the right from a pass by Collins and laid the ball square across the penalty area where Fletcher met it and hammered the ball into the net from 15 yards.
To sum up, this was another superb team performance with each man playing his part. James, Dobson and Ingham all had outstanding games, while Geoff Nulty and Keith Newton were both in peak form.
Thousands of Burnley fans made the short journey across the Pennines and the support they gave was tremendous. They were repaid with a display on the pitch which had that championship quality. It will take a lot to stop Burnley winning that title now.
Attendance 13689
Huddersfield Poole, Clark, Hutt (Summerill 60 mins), Smith, Saunders, Nicholson, Hoy, Pugh, Gowling, Dungworth, Lawson.
Burnley Stevenson, Docherty (Ingham 19 mins), Newton, Dobson, Waldron, Thomson, Nulty, Casper, Collins, Fletcher, James.
Referee Mr P Baldwin of Redcar