FIREWORKS are supposed to be reserved for Bonfire Night. But Burnley fans will long remember the first of November as the night referee Richard Beeby lit the touchpaper on an explosive evening at Turf Moor.

The night had started with a bang as Millwall grabbed a shock lead inside 48 seconds.

But the sparks only really began flying when allegations of racist comments aimed at Frank Sinclair saw visiting striker Ben May sent off in the players tunnel at half time.

The Lions substitute hardly had time to break sweat after his 44th minute introduction, but if Beeby is to be believed - and the evidence against the hapless man in black is already mounting - then he immediately crossed the line no player should ever cross.

Ironically, racism has reared its ugly head before in meetings between these two sides, when Steve Cotterill's predecessor Stan Ternent went on the offensive two seasons ago to rightly condemn supporters' aiming 'monkey chants' at Mo Camara.

Twice in a matter of weeks those disgusting chants were clearly heard by myself and colleagues inside the New Den.

However, in this instance it appears Beeby is all alone in his belief that a Millwall player abused another black Burnley player.

Distraught Lions boss Colin Lee put his reputation, and, if his threats were serious, his job on the line to vehemently defend May, whose best friend in the game is apparently Chelsea's black defender Glen Johnson.

And the Burnley camp, led by Sinclair and Cotterill, appear intent on backing an inevitable appeal against the red card May recieved and the shame it entails.

What is unquestionable, however, is Beeby's part in attempting to ruin another game as a spectacle as a quite staggering second half unravelled.

The man in black should have been looking for a quiet night to restore his damaged reputation after laughably sending off Barnet goalkeeper Ross Flintey for deliberate hand ball in the Carling Cup tie at Old Trafford last week.

Instead Beeby - who those with longer memories may recall dismissed Micah Hyde and sent Cotterill to the stands last year against Gillingham - had again become the centre of attention by amassing a ridiculous SIX yellows and FOUR reds.

The repercussions of this latest chapter could be costly for both clubs. Millwall have May, Jody Morris and Andy Marshall all facing three match bans, with the former also tarnished unless he can clear his name, while Burnley's James O'Connor also faces three games on the sidelines for his innocuous part in a fracas with Morris, who can have no complaints after nearly throttling the Clarets midfielder.

In addition, skipper Sinclair picked up a harsh fifth booking of the season to rule him out of a reunion with former club Leicester City later this month.

Yet following the carnage, will one of the most inept officials to strut Turf Moor face punishment himself if the straight red cards handed out to May, O'Connor and Marshall join that of Flitney in being swiftly overturned on appeal?

Don't hold your breath!

In hindsight, perhaps it was inevitable the game would have such a blistering start. And for Burnley it was of the worst possible kind as they fell behind within a minute.

Jermaine Wright scored one of the quickest goals of the season against the Clarets almost a year ago to the day, firing Leeds United ahead at Elland Road after just 12 seconds.

This time he waited 48 seconds before taking full advantage of Micah Hyde's failure to clear inside his own area and firing home despite Brian Jensen's valiant attempt to save the day.

In an error-strewn start from Burnley, Keith Lowe was then lucky not to be punished by Barry Hayles, whose shot was deflected just over.

Despite huffing and puffing, the best the Clarets could muster before the break was a couple of long-range efforts from dead-ball expert Garreth O'Connor, who has been starved of free kick opportunities in recent games.

Midway through the half he curled a right-footer into the side netting before finding Marshall alert to his second attempt just before the whistle brought muted boos.

Half time rumours that May had been sent off were soon confirmed, as was Steve Cottterill's attacking half time move to replace Michael Duff and John Spicer with Gifton Noel-Williams and on-loan Southampton winger Nathan Dyer.

And the 17-year-old Saints starlet certainly went on to steal the show and earn the man of the match champagne - even if it has to stay unopened until he reaches the legal drinking age!

Dyer's supply line soon led to Noel-Williams heading narrowly wide and time and time again the pint-sized winger looked to utilise his blistering pace to get to the by-line.

It was always going to take something out of the ordinary to stop him, and Beeby duly applied the brakes momentarily in the 70th minute, moments after Morris had again failed to capitalise on Lowe's mistake by firing wide with just Jensen to beat.

The fiery Millwall midfielder reacted angrily as O'Connor brushed past him in the centre circle and although the Burnley man's involvement appeared to be purely fending off Morris, both players were shown the red card.

However, Dyer exacted revenge in the best possible way within five minutes, jinking his way to the corner of the area and smashing a low shot across Marshall and in off the far post.

Turf Moor erupted and within five more minutes, the game had been turned completely on its head. Millwall could only half clear Garreth O'Connor's corner and Elliott, now operating as a right back, popped up with a peach of a half-volley that deflected high into the net to spark mayhem.

For Millwall, the game was up and after Marvin Elliott spooned a point-saving 83rd minute volley over a gaping goal, frustration turned to anger at the final whistle and boss Colin Lee had to haul his players away from the man in black.

Not to be denied though, Beeby had one last card trick for his audience and flashed red at a perplexed Marshall. As with most tricks, the joke wears thin the more it's repeated.