Relegated Sheffield Wednesday secured their biggest win of the season with an
emphatic victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Strikes from Paul McLaren, Ashley Westwood, Richard Wood, Richard Evans,
Steven Haslam, Alan Quinn and an own goal from Arthur Gnohere stunned Stan
Ternent's men whose cause was not helped when striker Ian Moore was shown a red
card in the 21st minute.
However, Robbie Blake bagged a brace for inconsistent Burnley who have now
conceded 87 goals this season.
Wednesday took the lead in the third minute when McLaren beat Clarets
shot-stopper Nik Michopoulos with a low shot and they were left reeling two
minutes later when Westwood crashed home Brian Barry-Murphy's left-wing cross
from six yards.
Burnley's bid to pull one back was hampered when Moore was given his marching
orders in the 21st minute for a cynical challenge on Barry-Murphy and young
defender Wood then celebrated his first senior goal for the Owls after 32
minutes with a sweet right-footed volley from Grant Holt's header.
The out-of-sorts Michopoulos was replaced by Marlon Beresford five minutes
later and the Clarets managed to pull one back minutes before the break when
Blake hit the target from the penalty spot after Westwood had handled the ball.
Former Birmingham winger Evans then opened his account when he beat Beresford
with a spectacular 35-yard drive a minute into the second half but £1million-man
Blake reduced the deficit with a left-footed drive in the 53rd minute.
But it did not take long for Chris Turner's men to restore their three-goal
advantage, with Haslam turning in Alan Quinn's free-kick 13 minutes later.
The rout did not stop there for blundering Burnley, also beaten 7-4 at home by
Watford this month, because French defender Gnohere put Holt's cross past his
own keeper within seven minutes.
And Quinn wrapped up the scoring 10 minutes from time when he beat Beresford
with a stunning 30-yard drive.
Teams:
Burnley: Michopoulos (Beresford 37), Gnohere, Stephen Davis,
Branch, McGregor (O'Neill 8), Maylett (Armstrong 56), Grant,
Chaplow, Blake, Ian Moore, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Rasmussen, Waine.
Sent Off: Ian Moore (21).
Booked: Gnohere, Taylor, Armstrong, Stephen Davis.
Goals: Blake 42 pen, 53.
Sheff Wed: Pressman (Stringer 27), Haslam, Westwood, Bromby,
Barry-Murphy, McLaren, Holt (Owusu 78), Quinn,
Smith (Richard Evans 45), Kuqi, Wood.
Subs Not Used: Jon Shaw, O'Donnell.
Booked: Haslam, Holt.
Goals: McLaren 3, Westwood 5, Wood 32, Richard Evans 47,
Haslam 66, Gnohere 73 og, Quinn 80.
Att: 17,435
Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).