STAN Ternent singled out the contribution of Arthur Gnohere after a double strike from the Frenchman helped Burnley move four points clear at the top of Division One with a 3-2 win over Lancashire rivals Preston at Deepdale.
Defender Gnohere and Glen Little put the visitors 2-0 up inside 25 minutes, but Paul McKenna and a Graham Alexander penalty saw the sides go into the interval on level terms.
But Gnohere found the net again just after the hour to put Ternent's men back in front and his second goal proved enough to secure three points.
"Arthur Gnohere's second goal was his trademark, his surge forward and a one-two," beamed Ternent. "It was a top-class goal.
"I think we won the game twice. We were coasting and then had to regroup at half-time, go out and win the game again and that is what they have done.
"We are still top of the table. That's the object of the exercise."
Ternent, though, was less than impressed with referee Roy Pearson, who booked goalkeeper Nik Michopoulos for apparently handling outside the area and then ruled out a Gareth Taylor a goal in stoppage time.
He said: "I thought it was a very good game, a derby match, goals... I think it had everything and it had a woeful referee as well, in my opinion.
"Watching the video, Nik was inside the box and if it's a foul, it's Chris Lucketti obstructing him Taylor, but never mind."
Meanwhile, Preston boss David Moyes felt with a bit of good fortune they could have got a result which would have extended their 11-match unbeaten run.
"I thought on the day we were the better team," said Moyes.
"When you think of the opportunities we had and then right at the start of the second half and the other things bobbling about the box, it was not our day when it came to finishing.
"We played well, we passed the ball. I got the feeling we were in the ascendency most of the time. We gifted them a goal from the free-kick, then it was a bad pass. It was right against the run of play.
"The lads kept going. They started the game as if they were going to win it. It was an open game.
"I have told the lads we want to now try and go on another unbeaten run. If we win next week it's better than two draws and we have been getting a lot of draws."
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