WHEN the Clarets make the long trip to Portman Road on Tuesday it will be almost 15 years to the day since the teams last met.

The two sides have not actually been in the same division since the 1975-76 season but on October 25 1977 they met in the League Cup at Turf Moor.

Paul Fletcher got the Burnley goal that night in a 2-1 defeat against Bobby Robson's Ipswich side that was to go on and lift the FA Cup that season.

It was not until the 1961-62 season that the two sides had actually played against each other and it turned out to be a remarkable campaign.

They met twice in the first four games of the season, Burnley winning 4-3 at Turf Moor and losing the return by an incredible 6-2.

But even after that, no one expected the Clarets, along with Spurs arguably the best side in the country, to be pipped to the title by Alf Ramsey's Division One new boys.

The Clarets won only three of their last 13 league games to allow Ipswich to pinch the title and deny Burnley a second title in three years.

The last time the two clubs met at Ipswich was in August 1975 as they fought out a 0-0 draw.

Tuesday's game has been rearranged because the original date clashed with the start of their UEFA Cup adventure.

They earned their place in the tournament because of their fair play last season.

But, given what has happened since, it is possible ex-boss George Burley would have preferred his side to have been a bit dirtier.