BEFORE kick off the Preston fans had it all to say. "Townful of Dingles" chorused three sides of Deepdale, wall to wall smugness and ear to ear grins, "you're just a town full of Dingles."

Come full time, they weren't singing quite so loud. In fact, the only noise coming out of Deepdale after the final whistle was that of a cacophonous Claret and Blue party getting under way in the Bill Shankly Kop.

In many ways, Sunday's victory over an impressive North End outfit was the epitome of the season to date. Another away victory, a sackful of goals and a collective sense of self belief so strong that the language of defeat is rendered all but obsolete.

Also impressive were some of the individual performances. Two players in particular caught the eye.

As always, the mesmeric Little demanded the attentions of at least two opposition players. And what of his goal? The nonchalance with which he struck his sublime, bending effort spoke of a confidence level higher than the sun and almost bordered on contempt at having to play on the same pitch as mere mortals.

But if Glen is God, and the evidence suggests this may not be as far fetched as it sounds, then what does that make Arthur Gnohere (God's right hand man)?

The man is simply awesome. He's that rarest of players; a strong defender who is genuinely comfortable in possession, and who appears immune to the concept of panic.

And not just in his own penalty area. The coolness and composure he demonstrated in taking his second goal (playing a one-two, rolling his studs over the ball, and brushing off a desperate defender before clinically picking his spot), hinted that Burnley may have a world-class player in the making.

For example, it is impossible to imagine either of England's much trumpeted younger defensive prospects -- Ferdinand or Brown -- performing with similar composure.

All in all, Sunday represented a highly satisfactory end to the first half of the season. By far the impost impressive statistic concerns the seven away wins recorded by the Clarets.

If Burnley can maintain their impressive home form whilst nicking a few more points on the road, there exists no reason why they cannot be, in Ternent's words, "there or thereabouts" come the end of the campaign.

Dare we yet dream of two promotions in three seasons? Even Preston fans would have to admit -- that's not bad for a townful of Dingles.