BURNLEY made it five home wins for the season as they edged a five-goal thriller with Bournemouth.

Eddie Howe’s second Turf Moor return was a miserable one as the Clarets maintained their excellent home record thanks to goal from Jeff Hendrick, Stephen Ward and George Boyd.

Once again Sean Dyche made four changes from the defeat at Stoke, reverting to the 4-4-1-1 formation that has worked so well at home. Tom Heaton return to replace Paul Robinson in goal, while Matt Lowton, Steven Defour and Sam Vokes returned, with Jon Flanagan, Ashley Barnes and Andre Gray making way.

The first sight of goal fell to the visitors as Adam Smith send a ball inside to Dan Gosling and he shot wide from the edge of the area.

The returning Heaton was tested within six minutes. Lowton’s block from Ryan Fraser’s shot after a weaving run fell invitingly to Benik Afobe inside the area but the Clarets captain was quickly down to his left to make the save.

It was the visitors who had started brightly and a short corner routine ended with Gosling firing just over from 20 yards.

But that start was consigned to history within a quarter of an hour thanks to a moment of brilliance from Hendrick.

Matt Lowton sent a ball forward which the Republic of Ireland midfielder controlled superbly before sending a dipping 20-yard volley into the top corner.

Minutes later the lead was doubled. Defour’s corner was met by an unmarked by Ben Mee and Artur Boruc could only palm it out on the line for Ward to slam home the rebound.

The Clarets were full of confidence now and from Heaton’s long free-kick Michael Keane twice won a header in the box, the second of which forced Boruc to turn the ball behind.

Bournemouth were looking for a way back into the game as the first half drew to a close and Heaton had to be at his best to tip over Smith’s curling free-kick.

The Cherries were finishing the half well and they halved the deficit in the dying seconds as an unmarked Afobe turned home Simon Francis’ low cross from 10 yards out.

The goal came after the minimum of one added minute had lapsed and the fact we were still playing clearly frustrated Dyche and his side, but the Clarets could have defended the move better as well.

They were almost in trouble from a similar move early in the second half from the opposite wing, with Fraser’s low cross picking out Afobe in the box, again unmarked, but this time his shot was wayward.

Dyche made two changes within 10 minutes of the start of the second half to try and stem the tide, as Andre Gray and Ashley Barnes came on for Sam Vokes and Steven Defour, and Barnes almost made an immediate impact as he lunged to slide Lowton’s clipped ball over from 18 yards.

Barnes was close again shortly after as he nodded Mee’s flick-on wide as Boruc came out to put him off.

The forward had made an immediate impact and he set Gray up for a golden chance when he flicked on Ward’s ball back into the area, but last season’s top scorer hooked his shot straight at Boruc from eight yards out.

With 15 minutes to go the Clarets gave themselves breathing space. Ward was tackled on the left but the ball fell to Gray and he slid a lovely reverse pass into George Boyd and the winger slammed a shot across Boruc and into the corner.

Both of Dyche’s early second half changes had made an impact and Gray almost earned himself a goal when he latched on to Hendrick’s long ball over the top and showed great pace from halfway before seeing Boruc save his shot.

Burnley looked like they could get a fourth at any point in the closing stages and Scott Arfield dragged a shot just wide after good work between Barnes and Lowton on the right.

But in the end they were left to hold on in injury time as an unmarked Charlie Daniels fired a drive across goal and into the net from a short corner routine.

Burnley: Tom Heaton, Matt Lowton, Michael Keane, Ben Mee, Stephen Ward, Dean Marney, Steven Defour (Ashley Barnes 55), George Boyd (James Tarkowski 90), Jeff Hendrick, Scott Arfield, Sam Vokes (Andre Gray 55)

Subs not used: Paul Robinson, Jon Flanagan, Michael Kightly, Patrick Bamford

Bournemouth: Artur Boruc, Adam Smith, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Charlie Daniels, Nathan Ake, Harry Arter, Dan Gosling (Josh King 71), Ryan Fraser (Marc Pugh 80), Benik Afobe, Callum Wilson (Jack Wilshere 59)

Subs not used: Adam Federici, Tyrone Mings, Brad Smith, Jordon Ibe