THE key stats and moments from the game against Preston North End.

BURNLEY:

NIK MICHOPOULOS Had very little to do in the first half but produced two crucial saves to justify his recall to the side...8

DEAN WEST Stayed focused as he took on the tricky Eddie Lewis knowing that he had the inexperienced Papadopoulos in front of him...7

MARK McGREGOR Put Saturday's uncertain display well behind him with a solid performance more in keeping with his efforts this season...7

GRAHAM BRANCH Mr Versatility was again forced to adapt as an emergency centre half and did not let anyone down with some telling interceptions...8

LEE BRISCOE Returned to left back in the Clarets shake-up and was in the comfort zone against ineffective Etuhu. Supported Moore well...7

DIMITRI PAPADOPOULOS Underlined his striking talent with a remarkable shot from a narrow angle to give the Clarets the lead. Worked hard in unfamiliar role...7

PAUL WELLER Had a lot of responsibility as the only recognised midfielder and never stopped working from the first minute...7

STEVE DAVIS Could have had a hat-trick in a display that suggested the skipper was determined to shine in midfield...7

ROBBIE BLAKE Will not score a better goal this season than the free kick that helped seal the game. Was at his best, breaking from midfield...8

IAN MOORE Once again in unfamiliar territory down the left this time but never gave Alexander a minute to rest with some strong running and closing down...7

GARETH TAYLOR Not for the first time seemed to be penalised for every jump against his opponents but looked hungry for goals...8

SUBS:

TONY GRANT (85 for Papadopoulos)

Subs not used: Marlon Beresford, Richard Chaplow, Joel Pilkington, Matty O'Neill

OPPOSITION CAMP:

LUCAS Great save from Davis in vain...7

ALEXANDER Running battle with Moore...6

LUCKETTI Rugged as they come...7

JACKSON Fought hard with Taylor...7

MEARS Looked to get forward...6

ETUHU Looked out of place wide right...5

O'NEIL A few long shots...6

McKENNA Saw shot blocked after run...6

LEWIS Superb free kick was in...7

CRESSWELL Fine target man...7

LYNCH Missed an open goal...6

SUBS:

CARTWRIGHT (69 for Etuhu)

ABBOTT (73 for Lynch)

SKORA (77 for Lewis)

Subs not used: Lonergan, Bailey

REFEREE: Mark Halsey (Herts) Upset Brown...6

YELLOW CARDS - Clarets: None; North End: O'Neil, 61 dissent; Lewis, 75 foul

RED CARDS - Clarets: None; North End: None

TALE OF THE TAPE (Clarets first)

10 Shots 15

5 On target 3

23 Free kicks 25

0 Offsides 2

1 Woodwork 1

6 Corners 5

TIME FOR ACTION

8 Lee Briscoe's inswinging free kick flicks a defender's head for the first corner of the game

14 Another free kick, this time from Robbie Blake, is headed wide by Gareth Taylor

21 Taylor gets his long range volley on target but it is an easy save for David Lucas

23 Paul Weller is robbed in the North End half and a quick break ends with Eddie Lewis dragging his shot wide

25 Better from Weller as he shoots narrowly wide after Taylor's shot is blocked

27 Only an instinctive header off the line by Graham Alexander stops Davis heading the opener from a Briscoe corner

31 A stunning Lewis free kick bounces down off the bar but Richard Cresswell and Simon Lynch put the ball over an open goal

41 Burnley take the lead as Lucas makes a great save to deny Davis only for Dimitri Papdopoulos to score from an almost impossible angle

46 Seconds into the second half Lewis shoots wide after being found by Cresswell

49 A well worked free kick ends with a poor cross by Alexander

55 Briscoe makes a good block to deny McKenna and concede the first PNE corner of the night

56 Nik Michopoulos makes his first save of the night to tip over Cresswell's drive

60 A break by Papadopoulos ends with Lucas making a fine save to keep out Blake's left foot drive

61 Seconds later Lucas has no chance as Blake smashes a free kick into the top right hand corner of the keeper's goal

63 Taylor's header hits the woodwork from another Blake free kick

76 Great skill by Blake ends with his cross being turned behind for a corner

77 A long throw by West finds Davis breaking into the box and his volley is agonisingly wide

83 Michopoulos makes another great save to turn Alexander's deflected free kick over the bar

86 A more comfortable stop this time as he holds on to Cresswell's header