WITH the Second Division pacesetters showing no signs of wilting, Clarets winger Glen Little was delighted to see fifth-place Burnley stay with the pace by chalking up their eighth win in 10 home games.

The Clarets' 1-0 success over Wycombe Wanderers didn't improve their standing in the table. But it meant they didn't lose any ground on the four clubs above them, who also all won.

"It was even more important that if they keep winning, you've just got to keep on their heels," said Little, after Andy Payton's 10th-goal of the season 18 minutes from time had banked the points.

"I think it was very important, with the way it's going. I think any win at this stage of the season helps.

"But we've had a couple of draws and with it being a home game we had to win.

"It wasn't pretty but we got the three points.

"It did seem like it was going to be a 0-0 but luckily Payts popped up with the winner."

Burnley survived a missed penalty seven minutes before Payton struck before finally killing off a plucky Wycombe side, on a day when the home side played in fits and starts. Little added: "I thought we started off well. We were playing some good stuff and had a couple of chances and then they came into it when we didn't score.

"And it was the same in the second half when we had a couple of good chances. Then when they got the penalty I thought if they'd scored it would have been difficult for us. I couldn't really see where a goal was coming from.

"In the end it was a scrappy goal from a set-piece but they all count."

Burnley can now put their promotion campaign on the back-burner for a fortnight as they plot cup success in the Auto Windscreens Shield in mid-week and then the FA Cup at Derby County next Saturday.

It remains to be seen whether Little will be involved on Tuesday night, but the in-form winger will certainly be a key figure at Pride Park.

"We've got something to look forward to next Saturday. At least we are going into it in good form and I'm sure we'll enjoy it," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.