Burnley were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at Portman Road, when a late penalty sealed all three points for Ipswich Town.

The Clarets had taken a first half lead with Michael Ricketts netting his second goal in successive games and Burnley had managed to restrict their hosts to mainly long range shots, but the late decision gave Ipswich the opportunity to avenge their 3-0 reverse at Turf Moor earlier in the season.

Steve Cotterill's men were also hit by the sending off of Wayne Thomas which will result in a costly suspension for the big defender.

The Clarets were certainly the more comfortable of the teams in the first half and had the first opening of the game when Ricketts touched Michael Duff's cross field pass into the path of Gifton Noel-Williams, but his shot on the turn went over the bar.

Ricketts himself had a half chance soon after in the sixth minute, when he let a ball in from John Spicer roll across his body before hitting a left footer at goal. He didn't get as good a connection as he would've liked though and Shane Supple made an easy save.

At the other end, a pacy free kick from Darren Currie on the right flew across the face goal and narrowly wide of the far post when all it would have needed was a slight touch to guide it home from within the crowded box.

Another good move from the Clarets saw Spicer run at the heart of the Town defence before finding Jon Harley in support on the left. He played a cross into the area for Noel-Williams, whose header went just wide of the post.

A low cross from Scott Barron almost brought the opener for Ipswich less than 10 minutes before the break, when Jensen looked to let it roll wide but when the ball hit the foot of the post it fortunately bounced right at his feet.

Town hit the post again in the 40th minute when Alan Lee headed Ian Westlake's left wing cross at goal, but after striking the woodwork the ball rolled across the goal-line and to safety.

Ipswich looked to be finishing the first half the stronger, but it was the Clarets who went in at the break with the lead when Noel-Williams flicked on Spicer's pass for Ricketts and he made no mistake by side footing home from inside the box on the stroke of half time.

The home side made changes at the break, with defender Richard Naylor thrown up front to partner Lee and Spanish defender Sito Castro replacing Westlake on the right.

They started the second half brightly too, pushing onto the Clarets at every opportunity but Burnley dealt with the early pressure and restricted Ipswich to long range shots and hopeful crosses into the area.

Jensen did have a good save to make just before the hour mark though, when Matt Richards picked out Currie in acres of space on the right but his angled drive was straight at the Clarets keeper.

Lee then managed to take the ball around Jensen in the area, but couldn't keep control and John McGreal was there to sweep up off the line.

The Irishman didn't have long to wait though and after 62 minutes, he controlled a cross from Barron and turned McGreal before smashing past Jensen to bring things level.

Ipswich were now looking for a second goal and Burnley introduced Chris McCann to the action, as he replaced Graham Branch in midfield.

Burnley still looked dangerous though and could have had a second in the 73rd minute when Spicer's jinking run into the box ended with a pass to Ricketts, but his attempted chip went just over the crossbar.

Town had the breakthrough with just 10 minutes remaining though, when Lee fell under Duff's challenge in the box. Richards stepped up from the penalty spot to place a shot to Jensen's left and seal all three points for the home side.

To make matters worse, the Clarets were reduced to 10 men as Wayne Thomas picked up his second booking of the game and was sent off.

Burnley tried to get themselves level with some late pressure and substitute Wade Elliott added to the attack, but there was to be no equaliser for the Clarets though as Ipswich got the points which took them above Burnley in the table.

Ipswich Town: Supple, Wilnis, Richards, De Vos, Naylor, Currie, Juan, Garvan, Barron, Lee, Westlake (Castro, 45). Subs not used: Price, Magilton, Peters, McDonald.

Burnley: Jensen, Thomas, McGreal, Duff, James O'Connor, Hyde, Branch (McCann, 67) Ricketts, Noel-Williams (Courtney, 83) Spicer (Elliott, 89) Harley. Subs not used: Karbassiyoon, Garreth O'Connor.

Bookings: Ian Westlake (9 minutes), Wayne Thomas (13 minutes), Michael Ricketts (45 minutes), John Spicer (45 minutes), Wayne Thomas (80 minutes)

Sending offs: Wayne Thomas (two bookings)