Burnley vs Middlesbrough. Premier League.
Turf MoorAttendance21,562.
Monday 26 December 2016 19:06, UK
Andre Gray ended a 10-game goal drought to hand Burnley a narrow 1-0 Boxing Day victory over Middlesbrough at Turf Moor.
The Clarets striker drew a line under what has been a testing campaign - marred by bans and injuries - with a sweetly-struck volley that proved too hot for Boro goalkeeper Victor Valdes to handle 10 minutes from time.
The 25-year-old's first goal since August 20 proved to be a fitting winner in a game bereft of clear-cut chances for either of last season's top two in the Sky Bet Championship.
After only their second victory in seven games, Burnley leapfrog Middlesbrough into 14th in the Premier League while opening up a two-point gap over the Teessiders, who now occupy 15th place.
Burnley defender Jon Flanagan and Boro forward Cristhian Stuani were recalled to their sides as both managers made one change from their last outings against Tottenham and Swansea respectively.
After Marten de Roon had set the tone by receiving a booking for a firm challenge on Stephen Ward, Stuani was straight into the action, whistling a venomous volley inches wide after 12 minutes.
Ashley Barnes drew Valdes into action on 23 minutes with a low, skimming effort as Burnley grew into the game before the hosts had a penalty appeal rejected after the ball appeared to striker Calum Chambers' arm after a melee in the area.
George Boyd then stung Valdes' palms with a rasping drive on the half hour before the game threatened to boil over as both sides ended the half with two players booked following a series of robust challenges.
Flanagan's forceful challenge on Gaston Ramirez on 50 minutes ensured the first-half needle was reinstated after the interval, he too received a caution.
It took until 64 minutes for either side to fashion a chance, with Stuani's glancing header drawing Tom Heaton into a flying save.
A further three players would make their way into the referee's notebook as petulance began to creep into the game - with 11 brandished by the time the final whistle sounded.
All that, however, was put to one side 10 minutes from time as Gray rounded off a simple route-one move to put Burnley ahead.
Substitute Sam Vokes rose highest to flick Heaton's kick up field into the path of Gray who fiercely struck a first-time volley on target.
Valdes looked to have kept the effort out but it agonisingly span across the goal-line to hand the striker his first goal since the Clarets beat Liverpool.
And there proved to be no way back for Boro as they succumbed to the team who they saw pip them to the Championship title last season.
Player ratings
Burnley: Heaton (8), Flanagan (6), Mee (6), Keane (7), Ward (6), Arfield (6), Marney (6), Hendrick (7), Boyd (8), Gray (7), Barnes (6).
Used subs: Vokes (5), Defour (5), Gudmundsson (5).
Middlesbrough: Valdes (5), Barragan (5), Chambers (6), Gibson (8), Da Silva (6), Forshaw (6), Clayton (7), de Roon (5), Stuani (7), Negredo (6), Ramirez (6).
Used subs: Friend (5), Traore (5).
Man of the match: Tom Heaton
