JOHN Collins looked slightly shell-shocked after his table topping side slipped to only their fourth defeat of the season.

Burnley join Preston, Birmingham and Stockport as the quartet of Division One teams to get one over on the Premiership-bound Cottagers.

"All credit to Burnley and good luck to them," said the former Celtic, Monaco and Everton man who was playing only his second league game since a hamstring injury sidelined him in November.

"We knew it was going to be difficult when we arrived. Burnley are a strong side, the pitch was bumpy and they were up for it, you could tell as soon as we kicked off.

"I am disappointed for us, taking the lead and then losing the game.

"But now the important thing is how we react on Saturday.

"We had a lot of possession but they defended well and marked our front two very tightly.

"They never gave them space and didn't let us create chances.

"All credit to Burnley for doing that."

Fulham still have a nine point gap at the top of the table and Collins doesn't think they are sitting back and relaxing in any way.

"It is not difficult to motivate us even though we have this lead at the top of the table.

"If anything it should motivate us even more.

"But there are still 13 games to go and the defeat is not the end of the world.

"We are still in a very healthy position and there is no point getting down about it.

"We have another game on Saturday and now that is what's important. It's how we react but I am sure the reaction will be good."

The midfielder was substituted after 68 minutes as he struggles to recover from his three months out.

"It's only my second game back and it will take a while to get back to full fitness.

"I played 45 minutes last week in the win over Nottingham Forest and 65 minutes at Burnley.

"So hopefully I'll be ready for 90 minutes soon."

He added: "It will take time to get back to what I was, but I'm getting there." LEVELLER: Burnley striker Ian Moore stoops to scramble home the equaliser against leaders Fulham at Turf Moor last night. Pictures: NEIL JOHNSON MATCH WINNER: Burnley midfielder Glen Little calmly slots the ball home to score a late winner against league leaders Fulham at Turf Moor last night