TURF Moor chief Adrian Heath today paid a warm tribute to Burnley's man-mountain Peter Swan.

Swan was handed the captain's armband after skipper Nigel Gleghorn was substituted at half-time with a shoulder injury.

And Heath reckons the big number five inspired Burnley to a gritty 1-0 win over Bournemouth.

"Peter is a tremendous leader and he certainly enjoys the role. I know he loves being captain," said Heath.

"He was delighted at half-time when I handed the armband to him. It was just typical of him that he wanted to be captain the first time he played this season at York.

"The captaincy doesn't make any difference to his game. He has done brilliantly since he came into the side. His performances have inspired people around him. I can't praise him enough."

The win - Burnley's eighth league success at Turf Moor since the start of the season - leaves the Clarets in sixth spot and handily poised for a push towards an automatic promotion spot.

Paul Barnes scored the all-important goal after six minutes but picked up an Achilles Tendon injury early in the second half and was replaced by Andy Cooke. Barnes was under treatment today and hopes to be fit for the weekend clash at Plymouth.

Heath added: "It was a pleasing performance and we performed well, especially in the second half. It was also a bonus that we kept a clean sheet.

"The team spirit is really good at the moment.

"They have strung together a run of results I always knew they were capable of.

"The players are working very hard for each other. There is a lot of determination within the squad.

"I've said all season that we had a team capable of producing good performances and making a big challenge in Division Two."

Heath praised the contribution of his young stars and added: "Chris Brass was superb and Paul Weller, who didn't have a great first half, showed a lot of character and determination in the second period.

"Paul Smith also had to switch to left-back after David Eyres went off with an ankle injury. He coped very well."

Heath was forced to use all three substitutes with Steve Thompson making his first appearance since the 2-0 Coca-Cola Cup win over Mansfield in the first week of September. "It was great to see Steve Thompson come through okay and Vince Overson did well when he came on.

"We have a strong squad and we will go down to Plymouth in good spirits."

Burnley Reserves are in Group One of the Pontins League Cup and face Oldham Athletic at Turf Moor on Wednesday, January 8 (7.15). They also have ties against Carlisle, Turf Moor, January 15 and at Wigan, February 12 in the new round-robin tournament.

Burnley's scheduled Pontins League fixture at Carlisle on January 8 will be played on Wednesday, March 12.

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