TALK about the War of the Roses. This was more like a tame knock-about in no man’s land. All the ingredients were there for something a little more explosive.

This was Leeds’s first visit to Turf Moor for more than 20 years, a bumper crowd and Burnley’s opportunity for a double over their rivals from across the Pennines. In the end the early kick-off soon faded into the memory, with only a solitary bullet header from Iceland international Gylfi Einarsson separating the sides.

The Lancashire side had the opportunity to salvage something from their own desperate performance with a penalty in the last five minutes. Unbelievably, this was their first real strike on target and ended with goalkeeper Neil Sullivan diving to his left to easily parry away Ian Moore’s spot-kick.

Of course, Burnley are not quite focused on the Coca-Cola Championship. There is a little matter of an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Blackburn Rovers coming up, a tie that manager Steve Cotterill described in his programme notes as “having plenty of local interest”.

His words were almost as understated as his team’s contribution to a contest in which they barely threatened. Leeds, still in play-off contention, were easily the better team and had ample opportunities for a more comprehensive victory. The best fell to Brian Deane midway through the second period. Alone inside the penalty area, he somehow contrived to volley the ball straight out of play across the far touchline. With Rob Hulse’s expected arrival from West Bromwich Albion, his days at Elland Road may be over.

The goal, on 65 minutes, was a slice of quality, with Einarsson getting his head to Aaron Lennon’s fine cross to rocket the ball into the back of the net. This was only his second for Leeds, since joining from Norwegian side Lillestrom last month. His goal was the first conceded by Burnley at home for nearly 12 hours, the last ones coming in the Carling Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur in November.

The opening period dictated the pattern. Leeds’s Jermaine Wright tested goalkeeper Brian Jensen at the near post, Sean Gregan screwed an opportunity horribly wide and Gary Cahill was lucky only to be booked for bringing down David Healy, who later had a goal ruled out from offside.

The only real drama after the break saw Frank Sinclair sent off in the closing stages for a second booking after kicking out at Einarsson and the penalty awarded when Clarke Carlisle clambered over Moore. “We looked a good side today and fully deserved the three points,” said Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell.

STAR MAN: Gylfi Einarsson (Leeds United)

Player ratings: Burnley: Jensen 5, Roche 5, McGreal 5, Sinclair 5, Camara 5, Oster 5 (Valois, 69min 5), Grant 6, Hyde 6, Cahill 6, Branch 6, Moore 7

Leeds United: Sullivan 7, Kelly 7, Carlisle 7, Butler 7, Gray 6, Lennon 7, Wright 7, Gregan 6, Einarsson 8 (Pugh, 87min 5), Deane 4 (Ricketts, 87min 5), Healy 7

Scorer: Leeds United: Einarsson 66

Sent off: Sinclair 78

Referee: C Webster

Attendance: 17,789

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football