Burnley 4, Port Vale 2

By Steve Shaw

PORT Vale were no match for Championship side Burnley as the Jim Gannon-era started with a 4-2 defeat at Turf Moor.

Gannon took charge of Vale for the first time after being appointed last week, but his new side faced an uphill task from the first minute of this FA Cup third-round clash.

Clarke Carlisle headed the hosts into an early lead before Rob Taylor levelled for the Vale.

But The Clarets restored their lead before the break through Tyrone Mears's free-kick, while a Chris Eagles second-half strike and a Graham Alexander penalty added to their tally.

Taylor scored a second consolation goal for the Vale late on.

Vale were dealt a huge blow this week when Marc Richards was ruled out for around six weeks with a serious leg injury.

The striker's absence meant attacking midfielder Louis Dodds was deployed as a second striker Richards's namesake, Justin Richards.

Recalled winger Lewis Haldane made only his third start of the season as he replaced the injury-stricken Richards.

Haldane's inclusion was Vale's only change from the team that secured Monday's 2-1 victory over Burton.

But Burnley's caretaker boss Stuart Gray made four changes after their 2-1 defeat at Reading, as former Stoke City striker Chris Iwelumo earned a recall.

Meanwhile, Gannon followed through on his pledge to make Gareth Owen his captain-for-the-day in the absence of Richards and club skipper Tommy Fraser who started on the bench.

Gannon and Owen have vowed to bury hatchet after falling out during their time at Stockport.

But the hosts came storming out of the traps to take a fourth-minute lead after the ball was swept out to Eagles.

The former Manchester United trainee whipped over the perfect right-flank cross for Carlisle to head home from near the edge of the six-yard box.

A minute later, Eagles delivered a carbon-copy cross, but Iwelumo missed the target with his header.

The Clarets were dominating possession as they unleashed their slick and quick passing game on the shell-shocked visitors.

But Vale hung in there as Taylor offered some respite with a few driving runs.

And Vale shocked the hosts on 15 minutes when they scored from a well-worked move as Lee Collins set Richards free in the left-hand channel.

The striker squared the ball which just evaded Haldane before Dodds angled a shot back in from the far post.

Burnley centre-back Michael Duff stopped the ball from going over the goal-line, but his uncertain touch allowed Taylor to nip and convert from a few yards out.

Vale were buoyed by the equaliser but found themselves behind again just five minutes later after Anthony Griffith hauled down Eagles.

Mears stepped up to fire the resulting 25-yard free-kick through Vale's defensive wall and into bottom left-hand corner, despite keeper Stuart Tomlinson getting a hand to the ball.

The game lost some of its impetus after the goal, although the hosts continued to show their quality in the passing stakes.

However, Collins almost engineered a chance for himself by driving past two markers before his powerful run was halted by Eagles's well-timed challenge.

Burnley continued to pose a threat down the right as Alexander was unable to get on the end of Mears's cross.

And on 34 minutes another cross from the right – this time delivered by Eagles – was headed over by former Potter Iwelumo who was constantly barracked by Vale's travelling support.

Owen surrendered possession cheaply on 42 minutes before Eagles fired wide from 18 yards.

And just before the break Jay Rodriguez almost embarrassed Tomlinson at his near post when midfielder's deflected 30-yard drive whistled just wide.

Gannon sprung a surprise at the start of the second half by replacing Dodds with 19-year-old central midfielder Sam Morsy who was came on to make only his third senior appearance.

But Morsy couldn't prevent Burnley from hitting their third goal from a sweeping 50th-minute counter attack.

Wade Elliott clipped a beautiful long ball into the feet of Jack Cork who skipped past Griffith before squaring to Eagles who fired a 16-yard drive inside the near right-hand post.

Tomlinson came to Vale's rescue on 54 minutes when he got down well to parry away Rodriguez's powerful 20-yard shot.

Meanwhile, a minority of Vale's travelling support got a little too excited as they began squaring up to stewards and the police, although order was maintained.

Morsy was impressing with some nice touches in midfield, while the youngster also made some intelligent forward runs.

And as Burnley slipped down a gear Vale began to gain confidence after being afforded more possession.

On 65 minutes, Taylor flicked on Collin's deep cross into the path of Gary Roberts who lifted the ball over onrushing keeper Lee Grant, but his shot also cleared the bar.

Four minutes later, Taylor drove forward again and this time slipped in Haldane. But as Haldane was about to pull the trigger from 18 yards, Clarets substitute Andre Bikey cleared with a fine tackle.

And Vale were caught on the counter again on 75 minutes when Collins hauled down Mears to concede a penalty.

Alexander confidently fired his low spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner.

But Vale continued to show plenty of heart as Taylor skilfully guided a 12-yard volley into the far right-hand corner on 82 minutes to give their vocal fans something to cheer.

Match Stats

Burnley: Grant, Mears, Carlisle, Duff (Bikey, 60), Fox, Alexander, Eagles, Elliott (Marney, 71), Cork, Rodriguez, Iwelumo (Thompson, 72).

Not used: Jenson, Edgar, Wallace, Easton.

Port Vale: Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Owen, Collins, Haldane (Rigg, 78), Roberts, Griffith, R Taylor, Dodds (Morsy, 46), J Richards (Fraser, 78).

Not used: Martin, K Taylor, Bell, Sutton.

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Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear)

Attendance: 9,442