GORDON Taylor may have called off industrial action but his namesake Gareth was striking again for Burnley.

Hours after the PFA settled its dispute with the clubs over television money it took just one Taylor strike to send Burnley five points clear at the top of the first division in a televised game.

The Welsh star's third minute header was enough to secure a fourth win out of five in November, a run that has seen them concede only one goal.

Burnley boss Stan Ternent again stressed there is a long way to go this season but one bottle of champagne must surely be on ice - November's manager of the month.

Thirteen points out of 15 and a return to the top spot they held for much of September must be enough to give Ternent the next managerial prize.

But all he really wants to win is promotion although he knows it is a long time before he can start thinking about that sort of celebration. They may be top of the table but they are there to be shot at.

"We are enjoying being top but that brings its own pressures," he said. "Sides will come and play above themselves.

"But the players are handling themselves well, coping extremely well with the pressure. We are on top on merit.

"The players have to perform because when you have a squad like we have you have got good competition for places.

"But all that is part and parcel of being a professional footballer, being a professional manager.

"I am protective of my players because the expectation levels are round but when you are at the top you will get more exposure. We have not been at the top of this division for a long time until this season. I want my players to enjoy it but be careful what they say.

"But we have only played 21 games and there are 25 games left, that is 75 points. We are on 40 points but that doesn't keep us in this division."

Ternent also repeated his warning that the Clarets are up against teams with more resources although he said: "It's not the size of the dog, it's the fight that is in it."

There will be many games this season when Burnley will have to show more fight than they did last night. Grimsby boss Lennie Lawrence admitted his attack was lightweight and another clean sheet for Nik Michopoulos was never seriously in doubt.

But with plenty of possession, especially in space behind the Mariners full backs in the first half, the failure to kill off clearly inferior opposition did cause a few nervy moments.

"We scored early and created a number of chances and hopefully would have scored some more," Ternent said. "But we know that in this league you will have to defend from time to time. But we were still good value for the win."

And they are definitely good value for top spot, the position they are certain to hold at the start of next week, no matter what happens elsewhere today and tomorrow.

November always looked as if it would offer Burnley a chance to kick on and they have done that well. Next stop is Crystal Palace, a match that is certain to be played now the strike is settled.

It is just a shame that key striker Gareth Taylor will be suspended.