STEVEN Defour played 90 minutes for Burnley Under-23s as the Clarets beat Crewe Alexandra 3-2 in the Professional Development League.

Burnley, still being taken by Academy manager Jon Pepper following Michael Duff’s departure, were back to winning ways after a defeat to Hull City a week ago.

Defour showed touches of class as he concluded his mini pre-season with a full game at Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium, while Anders Lindegaard also made his return from injury in goal.

Dwight McNeil was also involved and the teenage winger twice went close early on, sending a curling left-footed shot onto the roof of the net and then another from the same angle forced William Jaaskelainen into a low save.

Dan Agyei struck twice just before the half hour mark to put the Clarets into a two-goal lead. His first was laid on a plate by left-back Anthony Glennon’s wonderful cross, which Agyei glanced into the corner.

But his second was all his own work. Collecting the ball 25 yards from goal he drove at the Alex backline, skipped inside a challenge and found the bottom corner with his left-foot.

The lead would be wiped out before the break through. Ed Cook could only glance a free-kick into his own net 10 minutes before the break and when Oliver Younger felled Harry Pickering, Lewis Reilly made no mistake from the spot.

Burnley were back in front in fortuitous circumstances just before the hour mark, with Travis Johnson’s attempted clearance from his six-yard box rebounding off Tinashe Chakwana’s shins and finding the bottom corner.