GARETH Ainsworth returned to his native Lancashire to inflict a first home defeat of the season on promoted Burnley, with substitute Chris Martin heading home three minutes from time.
The victory – just Rangers’ second in 22 games – moved them closer to safety under Ainsworth, their third manager of the term.
And it delayed the title celebrations for Vincent Kompany’s Premier League-bound Clarets, who had needed three points to guarantee they would end a memorable campaign in first place.
For Ainsworth, a fan of Burnley’s local rivals Blackburn, it was a particularly sweet win – especially as Martin scored just short minutes after he threw on the veteran forward as a late sub.
“I’m a Blackburn lad and I know this is tough place to come,” he said. “I always get stick here and when the stick intensifies I know I must be doing something right. The Blackburn connection is a big one.
“Chris is my captain, but I told him yesterday I wanted to play on the counter-attack and this wasn’t the sort of game for him.
This story is from the April 23, 2023 edition of The Football League Paper.
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This story is from the April 23, 2023 edition of The Football League Paper.
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