THE fireworks came early at Burnley as the Clarets lit up Turf Moor on a sparkling afternoon of football.
On a date remembered for a plot to try and overthrow the established elite, Burnley moved into the top half of the Premier League, suggesting they might have more success than Guy Fawkes.
Sean Dyche’s side head into the third international break of the season on 14 points from 11 games, double the number they had at this stage two years ago, when they had only just registered their first win of the campaign.
This time around they have four victories, all at Turf Moor. To Liverpool, Watford and Everton, we can add Crystal Palace. All beaten here this season.
There have already been plenty of comparisons with the 2014/15 season, almost all of them relating to the steps forward the Clarets have made, but when they saw an early two goal lead against the Eagles wiped out, it was a feeling of deja vu that pervaded Turf Moor.
But while two years it was Palace who grabbed late glory, this time it was Burnley who showed what stern stuff they are made of.
It was a moment that sent Turf Moor wild.
Two years ago Ashley Barnes scored the goal that gave the Clarets their first win of the season on this very weekend. He finished the campaign with five, but a serious knee injury on the final day, followed by a hamstring injury this pre-season, had put him through 18 months of torment.
But the former Brighton man never let his head drop, and refused to curse his rotten luck. His reward came in stoppage time on Saturday with a winning goal - his first strike since February 2015 - and a roar of delight that expunged memories of rehabilitation and gym sessions.
It didn’t take long for the fireworks to begin. Within two minutes the Clarets had taken the lead, just seconds after they had defended a Palace corner.
Steven Defour provided the cool head in a breakaway, freeing Matt Lowton. His ball sent Johann Berg Gudmundsson wide, and from his cross Lowton’s shot was blocked on the line by Damien Delaney, only for Sam Vokes to poke home.
Tom Heaton then pressed his claim for an England start in front of the watching Gareth Southgate, denying Jason Puncheon with his hands and then Wilfried Zaha, impressively, with his legs.
Within seconds of that stop the Clarets doubled the advantage, with Vokes turning creator as he produced a reverse pass to send Gudmundsson through on goal, and although Steve Mandanda half stopped his shot, it had enough on it to find the back of the net.
Before the break Jeff Hendrick could have made it three after an excellent team move, cutting inside but seeing his shot saved by Mandanda.
The chances continued to come after the interval. Vokes latched on to Scott Arfield’s pass but was twice denied by Mandanda from close range.
A double change by Alan Pardew reinvigorated Palace and sub Connor Wickham swept home Zaha’s low cross to halve the deficit.
And when Matt Lowton was penalised for a handball from Andros Townsend’s cross, Christian Benteke tucked the penalty home to level the scores.
The drama wasn’t done though. Dean Marney, Barnes and Gudmundsson led a break. The Iceland winger sent a low cross in and Barnes finished with his left foot to snatch victory, although there was still time for Townsend to hit the inside of the post as home hearts skipped a beat.
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