BURNLEY fans once hailed Robbie Blake as a magician. And against his former paymasters, the Leeds United striker predictably opened up his box of tricks to pull three points out of the hat.

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill later described Blake as the difference between these two evenly matches sides.

And it's hard to contest that statement when you reflect that you-know-who had a hand in both goals that ultimately swung a gripping Roses battle United's way.

For 45 minutes the Clarets were all over Leeds like a rash, denying them space and possession, looking far the livelier outfit and only lacking the killer instinct to deservedly lead at the break.

But you can never rest on your laurels when a player like Blake is around and he emerged to dish out a painful reminder of everything Burnley fans knew about his undoubted talent.

The control and spin to spark a lightening second half break, which ultimately earned a crucial penalty that David Healy converted to open the scoring, left you slack-jawed in admiration.

But the mind-blowing 30-yard free kick Blake then struck to seal victory, leaving Brian Jensen clutching hopelessly at thin air, was worthy of sealing any game at the highest level.

"I thought Robbie was fantastic and when he is like that you can't handle him," said Cotterill. "At half time I warned my lads that if we didn't get tight enough, he would either score himself or roll someone in with a quality pass. In the end, he was the difference."

A light-hearted expletive aimed Blake's way then acted as the full stop to a breathtaking game in which Cotterill's Clarets can take great heart and credit.

The manager himself had the first say, looking to outfox opposite number Kevin Blackwell by making three changes to the side that earned a fourth straight Championship victory against Leicester last weekend.

Jensen returned in goal at Lee Grant's expense, while Garreth O'Connor and Wade Elliott both made way to allow Frank Sinclair to return as one of three centre backs and the surprise inclusion of Nathan Dyer as a strike partner for Ade Akinbiyi.

The on-loan Southampton starlet had given Clarets fans a tantalising taste of his pace and trickery against Millwall earlier this month, scoring a stunning debut goal as a second half substitute.

And the jet-heeled teenager was hell bent on making up for lost time after being taken off the leash for his first start.

Burnley survived an early scare when Lewis retrieved a deep corner and crossed for Matthew Kilgallon to rattle the underside of the crossbar with a firm header.

But the visitors' 3-5-2 formation meant they quickly took a stranglehold in midfield and Dyer - the ever-eager attacking option down the left - was, at times, unstoppable.

The 17-year-old rookie spread panic like wildfire throughout a wobbling United defence and his virtuoso performance in that opening half had upbeat Burnley fans at the opposite end chanting "sign him on" as he repeatedly danced past defenders.

His supply line led to James O'Connor forcing the first save of the game in the 12th minute when Neil Sullivan was equal to his 25-yarder with a firm hand.

Fifteen minutes later Dyer came even closer, picking up the ball in space and seeing his deflected shot drop agonisingly onto the roof of the net with Sullivan a beaten man.

John McGreal headed the resulting corner inches wide as the unrest among worried home fans grew. However, Blake was not about to let his former club pitch up at Elland Road and scoop up all three points without a fight and he dragged Leeds out of their lethargy with a typically mazy run across the Burnley box before feeding Lewis, who uncharacteristically was off target from his dangerous left boot.

And if the first half belonged to Burnley, the second brought much more of a positive response from the stunned hosts. Non-stop whinger Rob Hulse thought he had raised spirits three minutes after a welcome break, slotting the ball past Jensen from 12 yards only for the celebrations to be cut short by a linesman's flag.

However, the reprieve was short-lived and when Blake fed Lewis in the 55th minute, the USA international invited the tackle from Michael Duff inside the area and duly went to ground to earn the penalty which Healy converted, just beating Jensen's valiant attempt.

The Clarets thought they were level within minutes when Jon Harley swept a quick free kick past Sullivan while the Leeds wall retreated under the guidance of referee Tony Bates.

However, Bates cruelly pulled the ball back until the whistle was blown to the annoyance of Harley and his team mates and the disbelief of 2,500 fans celebrating behind the goal.

Miller flashed a shot inches wide as the constant ebb and flow continued, but 20 minutes from time came Blake's party piece to end all hopes of a comeback.

Thankfully, there had been no repeat of the argy-bargy that marred the first meeting between the sides at Turf Moor a month ago, with Shaun Derry and Micah Hyde both setting the tone by focusing on the football.

However, Hulse's continual bleating to the officials eventually strained nerves in the Burnley camp and both Sinclair and McGreal were booked as the minutes slipped by.

And Burnley knew their last hope of any salvation went when top scorer Akinbiyi created his only opening of the night, but fired tamely at Sullivan.