Talking the same language

Both young players' grasp of English is getting better in their second full season with the Clarets but a little bit of tutoring would still not go amiss.

But on Saturday they let their feet do the talking, or to be more accurate their heads, and the message from both players to manager Stan Ternent was loud and clear: "Pick me!"

Headed goals from the Clarets' foreign legion ensured that a 1-0 deficit turned into a 2-1 win for the second weekend running and Ternent knows he has some serious thinking to do in the coming weeks in terms of selection.

It has been well documented that Burnley has not got the biggest squad in the land but the manager does have good competition both in attack and at the back.

Papadopoulos has still made just the one League start in a Burnley shirt since his £500,000 move last summer, a man of the match display in the draw against Crystal Palace that started Burnley's current four game unbeaten run.

He, like his partner that day Gareth Taylor, has subsequently been restricted to a substitute's role having missed the win at Derby by being away on international duty.

Ian Moore and Robbie Blake have not done anything wrong but, after his two goal salvo as a sub against Blackpool in the week, the young Greek striker's flying header that secured a third successive victory was an eloquent argument for inclusion from the start tomorrow night against Millwall.

Papadopoulos may not be confident enough in his command of the English language to bang on his gaffer's door and demand a place but Ternent knows he is going to be hard to leave out.

"He has done very well but it is my job to make these decisions," admitted the manager. "He took his chance and I don't care what language he speaks if he keep putting the ball in the net."

Clarets winger Glen Little is certainly never short of a word or two for whoever cares to listen and it was his cross from the right that Papadopoulos flung himself full length to convert eight minutes from time.

"They looked to have a good understanding and Glen's English isn't bad," Ternent joked.

But only eight minutes before Papadopoulos won the game, it looked like being another afternoon of frustration for the Clarets.

Robbie Blake had fired against the post in the first half and his replacement Gareth Taylor headed a Dean West cross against the upright after the break.

So when James O'Connor and Jurgen Vandeurzen combined to give Bjarni Gudjonsson the chance to volley the ball home at the far post it looked as if a first home league win of the season might have to wait.

But that was the cue for the second member of Ternent's foreign force to use his head and make his point. Competition for places in the defence is about to get hotter with skipper Steve Davis targeting the trip to Bradford for his return to the fray and so Gnohere picked a good time to grab his first goal of the season and his fourth in total for Burnley.

Stoke keeper Neil Cutler conceded a corner with an athletic save to keep out his own defender Siarhei Shtaniuk's looping header but as Alan Moore delivered a great ball to the far post Gnohere was all alone and able to head powerfully into the gaping goal.

His celebrations after scoring are never dull and the sheer delight on his face as he whipped off his shirt and waved it around his head was a joy to behold but on this occasion his manger was spared a French kiss!

It is not just Davis who will be fighting for Gnohere's place, Mark McGregor will be keen to continue his spell in the first team although his removal from left back at half-time would suggest he is a little further down the pecking order despite recent good displays.

The final dramatic action of an enthralling last 20 minutes was the controversial dismissal of Stoke's striker Tommy Mooney on his debut. He had been a threat all afternoon and forced two saves from the impressive Marlon Beresford, the second a spectacular tip over that spare Ian Cox's blushes after a rare error had allowed former Turf Moor favourite Andy Cooke to set up his new partner.

But his afternoon ended prematurely when the fourth official spotted an incident that some thought was an elbow on Tony Grant and others believed was stamping.

Neither manager seemed too sure and Ternent admitted: "The normal response from managers is that we didn't see it. Being a member of the League Manager's Association I have to say that but the fourth official saw something and told the ref.

"He had a clear view of it but Tony had just won the ball, I was watching play when a roar went up and the play was stopped."

Stoke boss Steve Cotterill said: "The fourth official said he stamped on him but I wonder about that. I need to have a look at that one.

"The ball was still in play at the other end of the pitch and I was watching that. But having been top of the fair play league we have now had men sent off in the last two games. I hope we don't get a reputation we don't deserve and I hope all the talk isn't about Mooney getting sent off."

It certainly hasn't been in Burnley where the talk has been of goals for two young stars, a third win and the prospect of making it four against Millwall tomorrow night. Suddenly life at the Turf is a lot happier.

BURNLEY 2 (Gnohere 75, Papadopoulos 82)

STOKE CITY 1 (Gudjonsson 74)

Attendance: 14,244

At Turf Moor