Burnley 2 Leeds United 1

The forward pair netted within the space of two second-half minutes to help the Clarets end a three-match losing streak and cement their position in the Championship's top four.

David Healy's late deflected strike sent a few hearts in mouths, but Burnley were in no mood to gift their rivals over the Pennines a sniff of the points.

Steve Cotterill's side were always in the ascendency against their troubled Yorkshire rivals.

But arguably the turning point came when Leeds defender Hayden Foxe received his marching orders seven minutes after the break. With the extra man, Burnley filled their boots.

Noel-Williams, without a goal in his previous seven outings, got the ball rolling with a cool finish on 67 minutes.

Before celebrations had time to settle down, Yorkshire-born Gray added a second, ending his own mini-barren spell to take his season's goal-tally into double figures.

Cotterill reacted to Burnley's run of three straight defeats by making three changes - including a couple of surprise moves - to the side that lost 2-1 to Birmingham.

Brian Jensen was relegated to the bench for the first time this season, allowing Danny Coyne to make his first start in 14 months.

The Welsh international stopper has not featured since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against Brighton last September.

Coyne's long and painful route back to fitness has been well publicised and his return to the starting line-up brought a rousing cheer from Clarets supporters.

John McGreal also made a return after missing Burnley's last seven Championship matches with a medial knee ligament problem.

A defensive shift saw captain Wayne Thomas starting at right-back, with McGreal partnering Michael Duff in the centre.

Steve Foster was back among the substitutes while veteran Frank Sinclair, who completed his one-game ban on Saturday, did not make the 16-man squad.

Wade Elliott's inclusion at the expense of Irish teenager Chris McCann completed the changes.

Leeds, recently revitalised under new boss Dennis Wise, came to town with former Clarets duo Ian Moore and in-form Robbie Blake up front.

Coyne got his first meaningful touch in the sixth minute, charging off his line quicksmart to snuff out Moore inside the six yard box.

Burnley tasted their first real sight on goal after good pressure from Noel-Williams forced the former England international to concede a corner.

From the resulting Wade Elliott delivery, Noel-Williams snuck away from on-loan Ehiogu at the back post but flashed his header off target.

Elliott dragged a tame 25-yard shot wide and Steve Jones flashed a right-foot curler over the bar as the Clarets pressed hard.

A foul on Noel-Williams on the edge of United's penalty box, centre of goal, offered another opportunity to break the deadlock.

From the set-piece, Elliott's drilled effort packed plenty of power, but at a good height for stopper Graham Stack as he palmed away to his right.

But while the Clarets bossed possession, Wise's side posed a threat on the counter, with Turf Moor old-boys Moore and Blake at the heart of breakaway moves.

There was danger when Moore's cut-back fell at the feet of Eddie Lewis, but poor control from the American winger allowed Burnley to clear.

Just after the half-hour mark, Moore let fly from 20 yards and Jones cracked a piledriver from similar distance, but both efforts seared inches wide of the upright.

There was time before the interval for Jones to jink inside Foxe for the umpteenth time and launch another missile on goal, but Stack stretched to finger-tip over.

Within two minutes of the re-start, Noel-Williams struck the woodwork.

From Thomas' long throw-in, the giant frontman's headed flick-on cannoned the outside of the post, although Stack probably had it covered.

Burnley continued to dominate after the interval and, in an increasingly dramatic War of the Roses clash, were a man to the good when Foxe received his marching orders.

Referee Phil Dowd had no option but to dish out a second caution to Foxe when the former West Ham defender handled the ball on the ground.

It meant an immediate re-shuffle for Leeds as Blake was sacrificed.

Before the game, Cotterill urged home fans to boo Blake and Moore on their old stomping. They did not disappoint and Blake received the loudest taunts as he shuffled off the pitch.

With the numerical advantage, the Clarets were repeatedly on the front foot and McCann replaced Micah Hyde to add extra attacking impetus.

Leeds were pinned back as Noel-Williams eventually made the breakthrough.

From the left, Jones' fizzing low cross was only half-cleared by Matt Heath into the path of the big striker.

Noel-Williams made no mistake from 12 yards out, firing right-footed past Stack to raise the roof at Turf Moor.

There were double celebrations less than two minutes later as Gray joined his striking buddy on the scoresheet.

The Harrogate born sharpshooter collected a slick pass from Thomas and, after slipping the Leeds defence, tucked a low left-foot curler into the bottom corner.

Burnley wound down the clock by keeping hold of possession and it was unexpected that Leeds managed to trim the deficit.

But the visitors ensured a nervy finish when substitute Healy's shot took a slight deflection to beat Coyne.

Leeds had a chance to nick a point with an stoppage-time free-kick outside the box.

But Healy struck the Clarets wall, much to the relief of the home crowd.

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