Irish Eyes Smiling For Town

It may have taken nearly eight months but boy was this win worth waiting for.

Daryl Murphy and DJ campbell hit the goals but it was a brilliant team effort, on and off the pitch that made this happen.

When referee Mark Brown blew the final whistle, after five minutes of excruciating time added on, a feeling of joy mixed with relief swept around a reconfigurated Fortress Portman Road.

There was a feeling on anticipation built up during the bugler playing the Last post as 15 soldiers waiting around the centre circle with the match ball.

Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor were given a repturous welcome as they walked to the dug out and we were good to go.

It was pretty open first half, but with few real chances, although Lee Grant made a super save to deny DJ Campbell while Daryl Murphy shot wide and had another good effort ruled out by the referee for a phantom foul.

McCarthy had tweaked the team, bringing back Guraine N'Daw who was superb, and Tommy Smith went in as centre half while Luke Chambers moved to right back freeing up Carlos Edwards to operate down the wing to terrific effect.

From a move down the right, satrting with a throw in the excellent Ritchie Wellens got the ball in and a Kieran Trippier sliced the ball into the air, keeper Lee Grant ran into Murphy and fell back as the striker scored with a back-header.

Burnley went mad but the officials were not to be dissuaded and the goal stood.

Burnley, who also have a new manager in Sean Dyche made three substituions and it paid off when one of them, Junior Stanislas, put in a good ball for another one, Sam Vokes to head in after getting in just ahead of Danny Higgingbotham.

The old 'here we go again' feeling was almost tangible but there is a new feeling in this team engendered by McCarthy.

The heads did not go down, on the contary, Town roared back with an inspired winner three minutes from normal time.

It was Edwards who played in a superb diagonal cross for Campbell to tuck away his fourth goal in six games.

A fantastic first home game for McCarthy, and us, and while it is just one win, we have moved off the bottom and as the song goes - the only way is up.

Use your social login to comment on front page articles. Login using you Facebook, Twitter, Google or LinkedIn accounts and have your say!