Burnley 1 Millwall 0 - Tony Dewhurst's big match verdict

ACTION man Paul Weller epitomises the spirit and belief in the Burnley dressing room.

And perhaps this young man, more than any other individual in the team, will reflect on the Division Two campaign with a greater deal of solid satisfaction when the curtain falls next month.

Just 12 weeks ago times were tough for Paul Weller.

He was barracked, abused and finally booed off the Turf Moor pitch by an unforgiving minority of fans who should have known better.

They were determined to make life tough for a young player learning his trade. Weller faced a serious crisis of confidence.

The insults became so bad that his manager was forced to defend the player in public and leave him out of the team.

I had never seen Adrian Heath so angry and you did wonder how it would affect Weller.

It was an ordeal that could have broken the belief of any footballer, never mind a 22-year-old still wet behind the ears.

Yet, you sense that experience has made Weller a more resilient and determined individual.

His admirable match winner against Millwall handed Burnley three treasured play-off points in what could prove the most significant result at Turf Moor this season.

"Yeah. It wasn't nice at the time, especially because it was such a public thing and it got in the newspaper," admitted Weller.

"People were saying to me, how do you feel and that sort of stuff. But it was something I had to deal with in my own way. "I had the help of Jamie (Hoyland) and quite a few of the other senior players.

"They got me through the experience. They told me it was pointless worrying about it and thinking the crowd would be on to you again.

"I just went out there and got on with it. I had to. I had no choice. You can't hide from a situation like that."

A more liberated midfield role has given Weller license to roam and he is relishing every second.

"At the beginning of the season it was a bit different," he added.

"There were three of us in there and we were all looking at each other and saying 'Who will mark who?'

"Now I've more of a spare role. Previously, the three of us were a little bit flat in the middle of the park, we weren't really getting forward enough to help the front two.

"Now we seem to be helping the front pair a lot more and the role really does suit me.

"Consequently, my confidence is high and I'm chuffed with how the season has gone since I got back into the team."

Weller is a footballer who makes things happen and sparks events into life. It was testimony to his developing skills that he was singled out for man-marking job at Shrewsbury in midweek.

Weller, in fact, emerged as one of my main contenders for man-of-the-match, along with Gerry Harrison, Chris Brass and Chris Vinnicombe, in a Burnley performance which was highly effective and firmly back in the groove after the shock of Gay Meadow.

In the end, Brass shaded it. He never put a foot wrong to the right side of Jamie Hoyland and, when Millwall did get a sniff at goal, there was Brass to defuse the danger.

The Clarets inflicted the early damage and, for all of the game, they were by far the more inventive and resourceful team, particularly for the first half hour when Millwall were swept aside.

The contest was never going to be a classic. The cloying rain and a fierce gale blowing in from the Pennine foothills saw to that.

Burnley's winner arrived from one of a number of free kicks conceded by Millwall. Steve Thompson swung in the advantage and Jamie Hoyland appeared certain to score until he laid the ball wide to Paul Weller.

The midfielder saw the opening, sliding his shot past Tim Carter from the tightest of angles, although defender Alan McCleary made slight contact. "The lads were teasing me that it was an own goal, but that was definitely mine," said Weller.

Indeed, if Millwall were representative of the threat of potential play-off opposition, then Burnley have nothing to fear.

Their contribution was negligible and they offered only minor resistance in a contest you would have expected to be a lot more even.

Millwall, in fact, were an extreme disappointment and only their excellent form up until November has kept them in the promotion picture until now.

I really can't see them finishing inside the top six.

As predicted, the manager changed his team with Gerry Harrison recalled to the side. His presence gave the midfield department further extra bite and aggression.

And, considering he hadn't kicked a ball in first team anger since February, he could be justly proud of his performance.

Chris Vinnicombe, too, taking the left wing-back berth, produced a splendid performance in only his fourth league game of the season.

After Weller's early strike, we all sat back and watched for Burnley's dominance to be rewarded with further goals.

Paul Barnes saw a thunderous shot hit the side-netting' while the number 10 blasted over from close range after working himself into a promising position.

The only time Millwall really threatened the Burnley goal, Marlon Beresford was on hand to make a tremendous save five minutes before half-time.

Richard Sadler began the Millwall move and Steve Crawford saw Beresford close down the angle and make a highly significant save.

Weller was unlucky not to add to his first half strike after Tim Carter had spilled Barnes' free kick and, then, with three minutes left, substitute Stephen Guinan should have netted his first Clarets strike when his shot in front of a gaping goal ballooned over the target.

But Burnley were full value for their three points and a win which sets the Clarets up for Saturday's eagerly awaited assignment at Stockport County.

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