Delroy Facey ended his goal drought in style with a hat-trick to give Burnley
a comfortable win over Walsall at Turf Moor.
The on-loan Bolton striker had gone seven games without a goal going into the
match but a hat-trick of poacher's strikes saw off Walsall, for whom Paul Merson equalised against the run of
play in the first half.
Burnley started the match with just three substitutes on the bench after
injuries hit Stan Ternent's threadbare squad.
Burnley started in
positive fashion, taking just four minutes to break the deadlock.
Dean West found space on the right to cross into the six-yard box, where Facey
was there to thump home the first goal.
West and Robbie Blake both then struck the woodwork but against the run of play Walsall levelled after 24 minutes, Merson heading
home a Vinny Samways cross.
The goal raised Merson's spirits and Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen needed to
be alert to stop the former England man's 20-yard volley.
After Facey fired wide at the start of the second half he put Burnley ahead for the
second time in the match after 81 minutes.
Chris Baird was penalised for handball and Blake floated the free-kick to
Facey who powered his close-range header into the back of the net.
Facey completed his hat-trick just six minutes later in similar style,
converting another Blake cross.
Burnley: Jensen, West, Camara, Todd, Weller, Ian Moore, Blake,
Chaplow, Chadwick, Facey, Branch. Subs: Roche, Grant, O'Neill.
Walsall: Walker, Aranalde, Hay, Leitao, Merson, Matias,
Lawrence, Emblen, Samways, Baird, O'Neil. Subs: Kerr, Bazeley,
Osborn, Birch, Burton.
Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).