FINALLY, Burnley’s European adventure can begin.

When the Clarets shed blood, sweat and tears to finish seventh in the Premier League last season they had their eyes on trips to slightly farther flung destinations than Aberdeen.

But the Dons were always dangerous opponents, probably the toughest Burnley could have faced in the Europa League second qualifying round stage, and they lived up to that billing.

There was little of the ‘European’ about this tie though, from the moment the first whistle blew at Pittodrie it was blood and thunder. No quarter given and none asked for.

When Chris Wood fired the Clarets ahead in the opening 10 minutes it looked like it might be the comfortable night Turf Moor was hoping for. But if we learnt anything in the first leg it’s that Derek McInnes men don’t roll over for anyone.

Back they came, equalising through Lewis Ferguson’s stunning strike, inadvertently set-up by Wood, and into extra-time we went.

Jack Cork kept his head, nodding in before Ashley Barnes’ penalty booked a trip to Turkey. ‘We’re all going on a European tour’ rang out around Turf Moor.

This famous old ground hadn’t known a night like this for a long time. If this is what European nights at the Turf are going to be like, then let’s have a few more of them. Nobody will forget this in a hurry.

The Turf was rocking as the teams made their entrance and within 10 minutes it was bouncing as well. Cork won possession in the centre circle and Ashley Westwood played a wonderful, first-time pass over the top of the Dons defence for Wood, who turned away from Joe Lewis and rifled the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.

But Wood would find himself on the wrong end of a Dyche rocket when he played a part in the Dons equaliser.

The ball should never haven fallen to Ferguson for the midfielder to hook home an acrobatic volley from inside the box. When Gary Mackay-Steven’s cross reached Wood at the back post he was under no pressure, but instead of a firm header clear he redirected it back across goal and towards Ferguson, who did the rest in stunning fashion.

Anyone thinking the Europa League meant little to Burnley would have had that notion wiped away from Dyche’s reaction, as he stormed from his technical area to berate Wood for his poor defensive header.

The equalised rocked Burnley and it was the Dons who ended the half with their tails up, with Anders Lindegaard producing a fingertip save to turn Graeme Shinnie’s 22-yard effort wide.

Wood made way at half-time for Barnes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Aaron Lennon swapped wings, which led to a much improved Clarets display, with Gudmundsson’s snap half-volley forcing a sprawling Lewis into a low save in the opening stages of the second half.

But the Dons remained a threat on the break and every time they snuck over the halfway line Turf Moor held its collective breath, with the game perched on a knife edge for the Clarets, and Shinnie forced Lindegaard into a low save.

Lewis was the busier goalkeeper though and he produced sensational saves to deny Barnes and Vokes and force extra-time.

Cork’s clever pass found Barnes in space in the area, but Lewis was equal to his angled drive, before the former England Under-21 international tipped Vokes’ header onto the bar.

Burnley were back on the front foot at the start of extra-time and within the first period they had struck.

Charlie Taylor’s left-wing centre was met by Cork, making a typically late run into the box and he glanced his header beyond Lewis to put Burnley on the brink.

Progression was secured when the Clarets were awarded their first penalty in 36 games, Scott McKenna penalised for handling Gudmundsson’s cross and Barnes making no mistake from the spot.

Now the dangerous Dons are dealt with, it’s time to dig the passports out. Burnley are off to Istanbul.

Burnley: Anders Lindegaard 7, Matt Lowton 7, James Tarkowski 7, Ben Mee 8, Stephen Ward 7 (Charlie Taylor 90), Johann Berg Gudmundsson 8, Ashley Westwood 8 (Jeff Hendrick 106), Jack Cork 8, Aaron Lennon 6 (Dwight McNeil 87), Sam Vokes 7, Chris Wood 6 (Ashley Barnes 46, 7)

Subs not used: Adam Legzdins, Phil Bardsley, Kevin Long