A LOOK at the key stats from the match against Preston. NIK MICHOPOULOS: Made a couple of great saves early in the second half but failed to collect a number of crosses...7
DEAN WEST: Not as effective as in recent weeks and was kept busy by the lively North End attack...6
ARTHUR GNOHERE: The legend keeps growing as the fans' favourite picked the perfect stage to score his first goals for the club...8
IAN COX: The captain led by example again with a series of strong challenges and interventions...8
GRAHAM BRANCH: Had a poor game at left back and was removed after the break. Just could not find his range with his left foot...5
GLEN LITTLE: Again not at his mercurial best but his finish was top class as he latched onto a loose ball and curled a shot past Lucas...7
KEVIN BALL: Brought in to do battle with Sean Gregan in the middle of the park and the fact the Preston skipper played so poorly suggests he did his job...6
TONY GRANT: Is getting better and better, striding through the midfield, winning tackles and making passes...8
LEE BRISCOE: His delivery for the first goal was brilliant and the Clarets looked more solid when he reverted to left back...7
ALAN MOORE: A moment of magic created the winner, a great shot was touched onto the bar and he was busy throughout the match...7
IAN MOORE: Tireless as ever in a lone striking role but should have scored with his head after his namesake hit the bar...6
SUBS
GARETH TAYLOR (59 for Branch): Had a goal chalked off...6
PAUL WELLER (84 for Little): Little time to impress
LENNIE JOHNROSE (85 for A Moore) Almost had a chance
NOT USED: Luigi Cennamo, Dimitri Papadopoulos REFEREE: Roy Pearson (County Durham) North End got every key decision...5
OPPOSITION CAMP
LUCAS Great double save...6
ALEXANDER Cool penalty...6
LUCKETTI Tussle with Taylor...7
MURDOCK Could have seen red...6
EDWARDS Good crosses...7
CARTWRIGHT Did little right...5
GREGAN Poor game...5
MCKENNA Great goal...7
HEALY Constant threat...7
CRESSWELL Early injury...6
MACKEN Lively game...7
SUBS
BASHAM (14 for Cresswell): Chances...6
ANDERSON (82 for Cartwright)
Not used: Loneghan, Keane, Eaton
TALKING TACTICS
DESPITE the availability of top scorer Gareth Taylor, Stan Ternent went with the formation that was successful at Crystal Palace, with Glen Little and Alan Moore supporting lone striker Ian Moore. Preston boss David Moyes named all three of his strikers, David Healy in a more withdrawn role.
SOCCER HERO
IT has to be King Arthur. Gnohere stole in for the opener and coolly converted the winner to further enhance his star status at Turf Moor
THE VILLAIN
IT is often too easy to pick on the man in the middle but Mr Pearson was, to quote the Burnley manager, "woeful". Not necessarily assisted by his assistants
SKILL SPOT
ALAN Moore's flick to Gnohere was out of the very top drawer, a magic moment to create a wonderful goal .
TIME FOR ACTION
02David Healy collects Rob Edwards cross and forces a save from Nik Michopoulos
08Alan Moore has Burnley's first shot, a volley straight at David Lucas
17Lee Briscoe's superb free kick is touched home by Arthur Gnohere
25Lee Cartwright gifts the ball to Glen Little who curls a right foot shot home
28Michopoulos fails to claim a free kick and Paul McKenna hammers home from outside the box
40Graham Branch is adjudged to have fouled Healy in the box and Alexander scores from the spot
41Alan Moore's stunning chip is touched onto the bar by Lucas who then saves Ian Moore's header
46Michopoulos makes a great save to deny Healy
53The Greek keeper makes anther great stop to thwart Jon Macken
61Gnohere scores a superb goal after a one two with Alan Moore
87Steve Basham shoots wide after getting free in the box
90Gareth Taylor lobs Lucas but the linesman gives a foul against him
MATCH VERDICT
SUNDAY lunch was a Lancashire hot-pot of the very tastiest variety. Goals, saves, misses, tackles and controversy, it had the lot. A great game to watch, an even better one to win
TALE OF THE TAPE (North End first)
17 Goal attempts 8
9 Shots on target 4
0 Woodwork 1
7 Free kicks 18
1 Offsides 1
5 Corners 5
YELLOW CARDS - Clarets: Briscoe, 27 foul; Michopoulos, 33 handball; Ball, 42 foul, Grant, 66 foul; Taylor, 90 dissent
North End: Alexander, 45 foul; Murdock, 70 foul
RED CARDS - none
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