BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent changed his tactics ahead of the match with table-topping Crystal Palace and was rewarded with a return to winning ways.

And having opted to play a trio of defenders across the back he was delighted to see a fabulous display from his three musketeers Steve Davis, Ian Cox and Arthur Gnohere.

But in true musketeer style it was a question of all for one and one for all as the whole side dug in to grind out the first 1-0 win of the season.

"We changed our system and went man for man to match them," he admitted after halting the Eagles impressive run of seven straight wins that had taken them to the top of the table.

"We were more solid with three at the back rather than two. They had one chance late on with a shot across the face of goal and Morrison had one half chance but there were not a lot of chances in the game, it was difficult for both sides.

"We knew they would throw a lot at us in the second half and we had to defend deeper but the players coped well with it. In fact I thought that the players responded fantastically well to the disappointment of Saturday because that game was a big disappointment."

While he was clearly happy with his players, Ternent was obviously less impressed by the display of referee Mike Clattenburg, agreeing with the home fans who were increasingly bewildered by his decision making.

"It was a great result because it was against 12 men," was all Ternent would say on the subject. But having raced across the pitch to have a word with Mr Clattenburg as the teams left the pitch for half time it is a safe bet that he was not checking what the Durham official has put on his Christmas present list.

But all those frustrations will be forgotten today as he looks at the table that shows his side is back in third spot ahead of Sunday's trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

If Dave Jones' side takes a point from their Black Country derby at West Brom tomorrow then, for the second successive match, Burnley will be up against the league leaders and, having kept out the previously rampant Eagles, they will travel to Molineux in confident mood.

Not only was it three valuable points, it was a first clean sheet since the visit by Rotherham back at the start of last month, and that against a side that had the best scoring record in the division before kick-off.

The top of the table has taken on a very congested look and Palace boss Steve Bruce admitted he is not surprised that just six points separates the teams in the top half of the table.

"I don't think there is an outstanding team that is going to run away with it like a Fulham or a Blackburn last season," he said. "It is just going to be down who can get the consistency and put together a good run of results."

That is what Burnley will be hoping to do with away games at Wolves and Gillingham in the space of three days next week.

The players have insisted that heads have not dropped during the winless run of five games but there is little doubt last night's win can only act as a confidence boost.