BURNLEY showed unbelievable grit to turn certain defeat into victory with a magnificent second half fight back at fevered Turf Moor.

Seemingly dead and buried after Shefki Kuqi and a Clarke Carlisle own goal put the Eagles firmly in the driving seat, the Clarets eventually ran out worthy winners in a second half that simply defied belief.

Carlisle had halved the deficit before the break, but there was no hint of the drama that was about to unfold with less than 10 minutes remaining.

But a blatant Clint Hill hand ball suddenly changed the game and after Graham Alexander levelled from the spot, Burnley roared back into the top six with two goals in the dying minutes from Steven Thompson and Jay Rodriguez.

Unbelievable! The only word for it.

Clarke Carlisle celebrates Steven Thompson's 88th minute goal

The Clarets made three changes to the side that exited the FA Cup at Arsenal at the weekend.

Out went Chris Eagles, Joey Gudjonsson and Kevin McDonald, to be replaced by Wade Elliott, Rhys Williams and Thompson.

And Williams almost supplied the perfect start, surging forward and just over-hitting his through ball to Elliott.

A sweet flowing move in the 15th minute that started on the left ended up with Chris McCann and Alexander combining to free Elliott on the right, but his fierce drive was just the right height for Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.

And Brian Jensen needed to be equally alert two minutes later to tip over Anthony Stokes speculative long range effort, which had dip and venom.

Great attacking play from Christian Kalvenes opened up another opportunity for Burnley soon after.

The Norwegian somehow dug out a cross that McCann knocked into the path of Martin Paterson, whose shot on the turn was well held by Speroni.

But out of the blue, in the 25th minute, Palace were gifted the lead.

A long, hopeful ball upfield should have been gathered by Jensen, but the Dane dallied and Kuqi nipped in to nick the ball into an empty goal.

Eight minutes later, it was double disaster as Paul Ifill's drive into a crowded penalty area cannoned off Carlisle and into the bottom corner to double the Eagles' advantage.

In the 39th minute, Burnley suddenly began the long haul back.

Robbie Blake's corner was met by Elliott, whose shot hit the bar and bounced perfectly for Carlisle to nod home from six yards.

Clarke gets Burnley up and running

And as the break approached Elliott's shot was spilled by Speroni to Paterson, whose low effort was deflected for a corner off Fonte's outstretched arm.

The second half began with Burnley firmly in the ascendancy, as Blake whipped a free kick over and Williams dragged his snapshot wide following Speroni's poor punch.

Paterson made way for Rodriguez on the hour mark - and moments later seconds there was controversy as Thompson looked to capitalise on Jensen's long punt upfield.

The Clarets striker was blatantly upended by Fonte just outside the area, but despite being the last defender referee Carl Boyeson somehow opted to brandish only the yellow card following consultations with his linesman.

It was the one decision Boyeson couldn't make, as the incident either warranted a red or nothing - and predictably the free kick came to nothing.

On came Eagles for Blake as Coyle went for broke with 20 minutes remaining.

And the former Manchester United striker was pivotal in turning the tide Burnley's way.

The agile Speroni saved magnificently from Eagles as the wide man looked to find the bottom corner from distance in the 75th minute.

And Eagles was again inches off target as Alexander's free kick on the right flashed over a sea of bodies in the six yard box and off his head.

But 10 minutes from time came the moment Burnley had been waiting for as an Alexander ball into the box struck Clint Hill's arm.

Boyeson predictably missed it, but his assistant flagged and despite vehement protests and blatant delaying tactics from the visitors Alexander fired home from 12 yards as coolly as you like.

Calmness personified as 'Grezza' prepares for the penalty

With the Clarets back on level terms the stage was set for a grandstand finish.

And what a finale got as Rodriguez chased a lost cause and fed Eagles, who crossed for Thompson.

There was still plenty to do, but the turn was incredible and the finish sublime as he fired the ball high past Speroni.

Steven Thompson fires home the third goal

And as the four minutes of time were called, there was a finish to match that from Rodriguez himself, who broke the offside trap to meet Thompson's slide rule pass and nonchelantly complete the turnaround with the outside of his right foot.

Burnley: Jensen, Kalvenes, Carlisle, Caldwell, Williams, Blake (Eagles 69), McCann (Gudjonsson 71), Alexander, Elliott, Paterson (Rodriguez 61), Thompson.
Subs: McDonald, Penny

C Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Hill, Davis, J Fonte, Oster (Carle 53), Derry, Danns, Ifill, Kuqi (Moses 89), Stokes (Lee 66).
Subs: Ertl, R Fonte

Booked: Danns 58, Fonte 64, Hill 78

Ref: C Boyeson

Att: 10,312