PATIENCE is a virtue and it was one that the Clarets needed as they opened their 2001-02 campaign with a success that will inflate the burgeoning optimism at Turf Moor.

It took time for Stan Ternent's side to find their rhythm against a busy, if unco-ordinated Owls side.

A scrappy first half, which was littered with niggly fouls and far too much whistle from Stoke referee Phil Dowd, gave little away as to the true abilities of the two sides but the second half saw the Clarets build with purpose and eventually gain their reward.

The plights of winger Glen Little, again linked with Premiership outfit Sunderland in the national press, and strike partners Ian Moore and Gareth Taylor probably best illustrated Burnley's night.

Little tried his hand first against Derek Geary down the left and then, after 25 minutes, switched wings to test Ian Hendon on the right to no avail, but he persisted and in the second half his positive runs proved too much for Wednesday to handle.

It was one of those mazy runs that brought the penalty that sealed the Clarets success, in controversial circumstances, on 76 minutes.

However, they were already ahead when Paul Cook finally slotted away his twice taken spot kick after Moore and Taylor had found their feet.

The first half had seen the strike pair isolated from one another for long periods before they finally started to threaten just before half-time, Taylor hitting a post as chances began to present themselves.

But in the second half the pairs intelligent running brought a superb first goal on 57 minutes as Moore's deft back-heel allowed Gordon Armstrong to deliver a fine cross and Taylor netted with a perfectly placed header.

For Burnley, who had won only twice in their ten previous visits to Hillsborough with their most recent success coming in the old second division in the 1972-73 season, it was a win to savour.

"It is a lot of years since a Burnley side came here and won, so it is a great start for us," said Clarets boss Stan Ternent.

"It is a very welcome three points, but I felt that all things considered we deserved the win.

"We had a few lucky breaks, maybe the penalty was one of them, but you have to make the most of those breaks when they come."

The twice taken penalty proved the death knell for Wednesday.

The spot kick was conceded when striker Gerald Sibon's reckless and needless lunge felled Little, who seemed to have been crowded out on his path to goal, but as Cook lined up to take the kick referee Dowd had to hold matters up as he warned the Owls defenders about encroachment.

Cook's languid first attempt was well saved by Chris Stringer, preferred in goal to Kevin Pressman who was just returning from injury, but the Wednesday defenders had not heeded Dowd's warning and the kick was rightly ordered to be retaken - one Wednesday player was so far into the box that he could have shaken Cook's hand.

Cook's second attempt was hit with far more conviction and gave Stringer no chance and sealed the home side's fate, though the Owls could suffer even more due to fans coming on to the pitch to try and confront the Burnley players following the goal.

It was a game that ran away from Wednesday, who started impressively and had the ball in the net after only 50 seconds of the contest.

From their first attack Danny Maddix, snapped up after he was freed by QPR, turned a header against a post and Sibon forced home the rebound but the 'goal' was ruled out for a shove on a Clarets defender.

Wednesday continued to have the better of the opening 25 minutes but Clarets keeper Nik Michopoulos was barely tested on the odd occasion defensive duo Steve Davis and Ian Cox failed to deal with what was being thrown at them.

The scrappy nature of the game was underlined as first Lee Briscoe, skirmishing gamely with his former Owls clubmates, and then Dean West went into the book for fouls.

They were joined by Paul Weller and substitute Alan Moore, making his League debut for Burnley, in the second half but the cautions seemed a touch harsh in a contest that was ragged rather than spitefully robust.

But there were signs just before half-time that the Clarets were taking the upperhand and Taylor was twice unlucky as he first drifted a header narrowly wide from a pin-point Armstrong cross and then saw the ball squirm away off the outside of a post after he had reached a West through ball and sent his quickly taken effort skidding past Stringer on the slippy surface.

His opener 12 minutes after the interval underlined Burnley's growing control and Wednesday boss Peter Shreeves' reaction in changing his formation just two minutes later suggested the home side were feeling far from secure.

Shreeves threw on Italian Michele Di Piedi to partner Efan Ekoku, who previously had been alone save for the occasional support of Sibon who was given a free role between attack and midfield.

Di Piedi had his chances forcing one save from Michopoulos and then lifting a lob over the keeper but over the bar, but Wednesday had played their hand and failed to come up trumps.

Burnley could have added to their tally before the penalty, Armstrong putting a free header wide from Cook's perfectly delivered cross, but once the spot kick had been converted it was a case of mission accomplished.

The Clarets ability to bide their time and not get frustrated had brought the due dividend and it is a virtue that will serve them well over the coming campaign.

RESULT:

Sheffield Wednesday 0... Burnley 2...

Taylor 57, Cook pen 76