TEN MAN Burnley fell to a late sucker punch in a controversial Turf Moor clash.

The Clarets twice led in the first half through strikes from Steve Jones and Andy Gray.

Grzegroz Rasiak and Rudi Skacel twice equalised for the Saints before Rasiak came up with a deadly late header to steal the points.

But the real talking point arrived in the 15th minute when skipper Wayne Thomas was shown a straight red card for an alleged elbow on Jhon Viafara.

That left the Clarets facing 75 minutes against one of the pre-season promotion favourites with only 10 men.

And despite a heroic effort, Steve Cotterill's side ran out of luck as Rasiak again proved to be the scourge of Burnley.

The Clarets were unchanged from the side that earned a second successive victory at Stoke last weekend.

That meant that Gifton Noel-Williams kept his place up front alongside the hero in the Potteries, Andy Gray.

But it was fellow striker Jones, operating in a wide role on the left, who got the Clarets off to another perfect start.

Michael Duff's long throw was dealt with badly by two defensive headers and Jones pounced eight yards out to volley into the bottom corner and send a noisy Turf Moor into raptures.

Nine minutes in, it could have been two. Another Duff delivery found Gifton Noel-Williams in acres of space at the far post, but the in-form striker could only head wide with just keeper Kelvin Davis to beat.

James O'Connor screwed a shot wide as the Clarets continued to dominate the opening quarter hour.

But disaster struck in the 16th minute when skipper Wayne Thomas was sent off for the second time in a month following an off the ball incident that saw Jhon Viafara collapse in his own penalty area.

Referee Darren Drysdale instantly made himself the villain of Turf Moor by showing a straight red card to Thomas, who saw red in the Carling Cup defeat to Hartlepool in late September.

And the Saints took advantage of their numerical advantage within a minute as Chris Makin crossed and Grzegorz Rasiak headed home from close range.

Burnley replaced emergency right back Wade Elliott with Frank Sinclair in the 27th minute, with Andy Gray dropping deeper off lone striker Noel-Williams.

And in the 33rd minute, it was Gray who got on the end of Frank Sinclair's delicious free kick to head low past Davis and sensationally put the Clarets back in front.

Doggedly, Burnley then held the Saints at arms length to allow manager Steve Cotterill to use the sanctuary of the dressing room to reorganise the side for a second half scrap.

And Noel-Williams could have extended Burnley's lead within seven minutes of the restart, bending the ball towards the far corner and forcing a fine full length save from Davis.

And that save proved crucial in the 54th minute as Rudi Skacel advanced to rifle a low shot past Brian Jensen from 25 yards and level things up again.

Duff tested Davis and Skacel likewise with Jensen as both sides continued to trade blows.

But the killer blow was landed by the visitors in the 74th minute as the two goalscorers combined to hand the Saints all three points.

Skacel crossed from the left and Rasiak jumped highest to plant a superb header past Jensen from eight yards.

Again Burnley rallied and Gray's goalbound drive was parried away by Davis within a minute.

And when Davis again denied Gray in stoppage time, the last chance of earning a richly deserved point went with it 

Burnley: Jensen, Harley, Thomas, McGreal, Duff, Elliott (Sinclair 27), Hyde (Mahon 81), J O'Connor, Jones (McCann 68), Gray, Noel-Williams.
Subs: Lafferty, Foster.

Booked: Gray 63

Sent off: Thomas 16

Saints: Davis, Pele, Skacel (Surman 85), Wright-Phillips (Jones 67), Rasiak, Wright, Idiakez, Belmadi (Dyer 79), Makin, Baird, Viafara.
Subs: Miller, Bale.

Booked: Viafara 54

Ref: D Drysdale

Att: 13, 051