APPARENTLY as much as 70 per cent of the population reports having experienced some form of dj vu in their life.

The curious sense of familiarity with something seen before is partly explained by those in the know as simple 'wish fulfilment'.

And right now, Robbie Blake is fulfilling more wishes than Father Christmas and the Fairy Godmother combined!

His third winning goal in as many weeks left Burnley fans feeling they had seen all this before - in the previous two weeks to be exact.

There was an air of inevitability that, once the Clarets skipper strolled up to stroke home his 61st minute penalty, there would be no way back for Millwall.

Brighton found that out to their cost, as did Nottingham Forest exactly seven days earlier.

The Lions' were the latest to have their pride wounded at the hands of Burnley's own goalscoring phenomenon.

No matter how hard Millwall tried to cancel out his solitary strike, another powerful force beyond explanation denied them an equaliser.

So this morning, Plymouth Argyle manager Bobby Williamson is probably sticking pins into a Robbie Blake doll in the hope of avoiding becoming Blake and Burnley's next victim.

"It's an uncanny coincidence," Blake later admitted. "I might have had three winners before, but never in three 1-0 games in a row."

Blake is the first to admit, however, that Burnley's renaissance is very much a team ethic.

He might steal the headlines with the all-important goals - the latest his 11th of the season - but it's the clean sheets at the other end that also provides the platform for victories.

Ten times already, Championship opponents have failed to find the net against Steve Cotterill's side, which, in turn has lost just five of their 21 league games.

That is a phenomenon in itself when you consider the club's appalling defensive record over the past couple of seasons.

It might not be the meanest defence in the division any more, but you won't find many people around Turf Moor complaining.

In fact, the way things are going, an Arsenal-inspired anthem of "1-0 to the Burnley" might soon replace 'Amarillo' and '500 Miles' as a club theme.

In the meantime though, all you can do is sing the praises of Cotterill's charges.

The well-worn path trodden against both Forest and Brighton was evident again here, followed to the footstep before Blake put the boot into Millwall with a controversial 61st minute penalty.

Certainly the decision looked harsh on Lions defender Mark Phillips (sadly, not captain Mark!).

James O'Connor latched onto a quick throw and his attempted cut back from the by-line struck hand, rather than the other way round.

However, referee Eddie Ilderton was perfectly placed and awarded the spot kick to the consternation of just about every Millwall player.

It was no surprise to see striker Barry Hayles squealing away, considering he had questioned just about every decision Ilderton made all afternoon - including some that went his way!

But when the protests had died down - why is it that all players feel they can change a decision? - Blake compounded Millwall's sense of injustice by coolly finding the corner of the net.

All managers will tell you that such decisions can go either way, and credit goes to wily old pro Dennis Wise for happily accepting that in his post-match assessment.

What really ate away at the Lions' player-boss though was how his side left Turf Moor with their tails between their legs having been beaten.

There can be little argument that last season's FA Cup finalists deserved a point following a stirring finale that was in stark contrast to a lethargic opening hour.

After both sides exchanged half-chances in the opening seconds, the first half degenerated into a dour midfield scrap, hardly helped by some erratic decision making by ref Ilderton.

Gary Cahill picked up the first booking of his professional career for a tackle on Scott Dobie that the Lions striker exaggerated to the full, before O'Connor joined him in the book for having the temerity to query how David Livermore escaped punishment for trying to kick his head into orbit.

Elsewhere, there was more perspiration than inspiration, although Mo Camara and Michael Duff shone with some magnificent balls into the box that deserved better.

The break brought welcome relief, before Millwall emerged with a more positive approach.

Cahill made a magnificent block to deny Hayles a certain goal and Wise then threw on Paul Ifill to join the former Fulham striker, Dobie and the lively Jo Tessem in a four-pronged attack.

But the plan backfired within two minutes as Blake gave the Clarets the lead following the spot kick shenanigans.

O'Connor thought he might have had another penalty almost instantly when he was bundled over in the area trying to get on the edge of Ian Moore's terrific run and through ball.

Some go for you, some against you!

And that was the cue for Millwall to throw the kitchen sink at Burnley in a late effort to earn a point.

Aided by the incredible long throws from substitute Adrian Serioux - one must have carried at least 50 yards - Burnley were hemmed in their own box.

Darren Ward headed one such bomb inches wide of goal before another fell to Hayles, who was this time denied by another terrific block from Duff.

Tessem really should have made all that pressure pay five minutes from time when Duff's inadvertent slip put his clear on goal. Yet with just Jensen to beat, the loan signing from Southampton lost his balance and shot wide.

Just when Burnley were contemplating the great escape, Livermore caught them unaware with a rasping 30-yarder that thumped Jensen's post.

But that was the last scare and Burnley's third win on the spin hoisted them to eighth place, the highest of the season.

Rarefied air never smelt so sweet.

Millwall: Stack, Lawrence, Phillips, Ward, Muscat, Simpson (Ifill 58), Tessem, Livermore, Elliott (Dichio 62), Hayles, Dobie (Serioux 73). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Morris.

Goal: Blake 61 (pen).

Att: 11,471.

Booked: Cahill 33, O'Connor 35, Branch 64, Tessem 76.

Ref: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear). Brave decision. 6