BURNLEY and Brentford have so far built their early season moves towards the top of the Second Division on rock-solid defences.

The Clarets have conceded just four goals in nine games, two of which have come from the penalty spot, while last season's Third Division champions Brentford have leaked only seven goals in eight games.

For Brentford, their form has been a continuation of last season as they are now unbeaten in 24 League games.

And much of their success is down to an impressive centre-back pairing of Darren Powell and Icelandic international Herman Hreidarsson.

Hreidarsson cost a club record £850,000 - also a record transfer for a Third Division club - when chairman/manager Ron Noades recruited him from former club Crystal Palace in September, 1998.

And he has lived up to that billing, so much so that he and Powell have reportedly attracted interest from Premiership Wimbledon.

However, Noades has so far laughed off the offers and the duo will be key figures for his side at Turf Moor again tomorrow.

Burnley didn't have to spend a transfer fee when bringing Mitchell Thomas to the club from Luton in the summer.

But the former Spurs man has been just as important as Hreidarsson in creating a base for his club to mount a promotion challenge. But Thomas leads the way in most other categories, according to Nationwide League staticians Opta.

The Burnley central defender has made 182 passes compared with Hreidarsson's 170, with a four per cent better completion rate at 64 per cent.

He has also delivered five crosses to Hreidarsson's two, while the Icelander leads the way when coming out from the back with the ball with 88 per cent of his 25 dribbles or runs being completed, compared with 81 per cent of 16 for Thomas.

But the most important statistics relate to their defensive performances where Thomas leads the way in tackle count (30 to 11), blocks (25 to 17), clearances (162 to 123) and interceptions (15 to 11). Hreidarsson has won a greater percentage of his tackles (73 per cent to 53) but has also picked up a red card this term and played 100 minutes less than his Burnley rival.

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