IAN COX was given a remarkable welcome back to Dean Court - - and then reminded the Bournemouth fans what they are missing with a peerless performance to help Burnley collect their first away win in the League since October.

The Clarets defender, a big favourite on the south coast during his near four-year stay with the Cherries, needed to have no fears about how he would be received back at his old stamping ground just eight days after his £500,000 move to Turf Moor.

After both line-ups had been announced, Cox was given a special 'guest spot' and the Bournemouth fans responded generously to the request to show their appreciation for their former skipper.

"Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a reception. It was really quite emotional and very touching," the Clarets defender admitted afterwards.

Cox is now, however, a favourite in claret and blue and he kept a tight rein on Bournemouth dangerman Mark Stein to enjoy his second clean sheet as a Burnley player and underline the Clarets' promotion ambitions.

"We came here to do a job and get the three points and they were three points we really needed, in contrast to the other teams above and below us who didn't do so well. "As long as we keep clean sheets we are always going to be in with a shout of notching a goal.

"With Cookie and Payts up front there's always going to be an opportunity where we can nick a goal," he said.

Cox almost got on the scoresheet himself seven minutes after Andy Payton had bagged the winner with his 19th-goal of the season with half-an-hour gone.

He added: "I didn't think I was going to get it but I managed to get up and direct the header down and Mark (Ovendale) made a superb save to palm it round."

Burnley closed the gap on second-placed Bristol Rovers to just six points with a game in hand and are now perfectly placed to step up their challenge for an automatic promotion slot.

"There's always a team that puts a bit of a late run together," Cox added.

"It would be nice if we could get a couple of wins under our belts and just consolidate our position."

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