A Little miracle

The Cottagers have not won on a trip to Burnley in 50 years -- the last victory was 1951 -- they have had 24 visits since and little reward.

Fulham's 'statto' was convinced before the match that the Burnley bogey would strike again -- and right up to the final minutes he kept saying "You'll get a late winner, Burnley always do against us."

Even the 15,000 Clarets fans packed into Turf Moor might have thought that sounded too much like a fairy story -- Burnley, after one win in ten games and struggling with confidence were up against the table toppers, who are destined to play the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal next season.

But before the game, Little had insisted Burnley could upset the odds -- and he capped a dream night by stealing the show with the late winner with two minutes to spare.

Little latched onto Ian Moore's pass and slid the ball past Fulham keeper Maik Taylor for his first goal of the season.

And what a goal!

"I always seem to score important ones," he joked.

"I didn't know whether I was off-side or not but I just carried on and put the ball in and looked round and there was no flag!

"It was the best time to score."

The joking and laughing was in stark contrast to three days before when the Burnley players were so downcast following their 1-0 defeat at struggling Grimsby.

But although the personnel was almost the same -- the addition of loan striker Gareth Taylor apart -- it was a totally different Burnley.

There was so much belief and, even when they went a goal behind, the team never stopped pressing.

And, when they equalised, they never stopped going for the winner.

After ten difficult games, they weren't going to settle for second best.

"We have been on a sticky run but the players showed they are capable of playing against a better side," said boss Stan Ternent.

"It was a fantastic game and I think we shaded it.

"I think the lads have had enough of playing well without winning, they showed a bit more steel and resilience.

"And we got a break which we have not been having lately.

"All credit to the players. They have shown their potential and played to their capabilities, that is the difference."

Taylor, on a month's loan from Manchester City, got a fantastic reception from the fans and repaid them with a battling display.

Ternent brought him in to get his head to every ball he can.

He wants him to be a target man and emulate his recent form in City's reserves where he has scored 12 times in eight games.

And he looks like he will have no problem doing that.

A fierce shot from outside the area on the half hour signalled his intentions, the ball being pushed around the post by his namesake in the Fulham goal.

Taylor scrapped for everything up front alongside Ian Moore, who must be one of the fittest people on the pitch, as he never stopped running.

And together they got their reward, combining for a crucial equaliser on 73 minutes.

Defender Mitchell Thomas raced down the left wing, played in a superb ball to the far post which Taylor headed down giving Moore a simple tap in almost on the goalline for the third goal of his Burnley career.

But it could have been so different.

Fulham had possession without really threatening in the first half but, four minutes after the break, it seemed like Burnley's poor run of form was destined to continue.

Defender Steve Finnan was allowed too much time on the ball outside the area, he looped it over to the far post to Barry Hayles.

The big striker, returning after eight games out with an ankle injury because of Louis Saha's groin strain, was unmarked and headed the ball over Nik Michopoulos for his 17th goal of the campaign.

But, instead of heads down, it was game-on for Burnley.

Moore was still causing plenty of problems and shouted for a penalty numerous times after being grounded in the area.

"We have had four pretty legitimate appeals for a penalty," said Ternent. "But we didn't get any and so we had to do it the hard way."

And the hard work paid off when Burnley's million pound man and the debutant finally got their just desserts with the equaliser.

But it wasn't all one-way traffic after that.

Fulham threatened to dampen the revitalised Turf Moor, but skipper Davis made a last ditch tackle to deprive former Newcastle man Clark after a quickly-taken free kick had sent him clean through with ten minutes left on the clock.

But two minutes from time, the Fulham statto turned and just said: "I told you so!", as Little came up with the goods.