AFTER throwing a spanner in the works of promotion chasing Notts County, Burnley then heard their manager hit the nail on the head.

In a statement that went directly to the heart of what Adrian Heath is trying to achieve at Turf Moor, he made it plain that results such as Saturday's should not be considered exceptional.

They should be regarded as nothing less than the standard.

"We can't wait until we're facing Swindon and Notts County to play like that," said Heath, who admitted some disappointment that Burnley had not been further rewarded for a highly-organised, disciplined and committed display.

"I didn't think we were in trouble all afternoon.

"County huffed and puffed a bit but they never looked like blowing our house down.

"We've got to produce performances like that against everybody, week in, week out.

"I'm hoping this will be the stimulus for this type of performance becoming characteristic of us next season."

Almost two months into his managerial career, Heath is still making the right noises.

More significantly, his team are now beginning to form suitable responses.

None more so than David Eyres who covered every blade of Meadow Lane (a meadow being the only way to describe Notts County's pitch), creating chances and making a succession of crucial interceptions.

And when presented with sufficient space, he showed steely nerve and an eagerness for responsibility which culminated in a 35-yard drive after 37 minutes which beat Darren Ward but narrowly went the wrong side of the crossbar. Eyres' enthusiasm was matched throughout by Liam Robinson and especially Paul Weller whose whippet-like pace was a constant threat to an often confused Notts County defence, caught out frequently when attempting the offside trap.

But it was the deadly combination of a set-piece and the towering presence of Peter Swan, pictured above right, which ultimately broke the home rearguard down.

Steve Thompson swung in a perfect free kick from the left and Swan, rising ahead of Ian Baraclough and Shaun Murphy, directed a looping header perfectly under the far angle.

"He should score from set pieces as big as he is," insisted Heath.

"Swannie's a threat - he frightens one or two players, he even frightens his kids when he looks at them."

When you looked at the two teams on Saturday it was difficult to see why they are positioned at opposite ends of the table.

Solid in defence, Burnley proved dangerous on the counter and sufficiently confident to spread the ball around in midfield.

Mark Winstanley did enough to prevent Gary Jones hitting the target in the ninth minute from just outside the box before Swan almost connected with a sweeping 14th minute Eyres corner.

Jones then squandered a wonderful chance, after collecting a pass from Baraclough and creating space in the box, when he completely missed the ball.

Seemingly from nowhere and almost in slow motion, Thompson and Swan combined in the 31st minute to give Burnley a hardly undeserved lead. It was followed by an incredible miss by Jones again who took his eye off a Stephen Finnan through ball that beat Swan and Gary Parkinson and swept it wide at the far post from a couple of yards. Kurt Nogan was denied by a great save from Ward when he tried to make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute after tearing down the left wing.

But a double substitution for County in the 63rd minute immediately paid dividends when Shaun Derry's cross found Tony Battersby who glanced his header beyond Marlon Beresford.

It was a sloppy goal to concede when three defenders, Swan, Winstanley and Charlie Bishop, were poised between the former Sheffield United man and the goal yet allowed Battersby to rise unchallenged in the box.

He was given room again right at the death when he guided a powerful header towards goal but Beresford produced an outstanding save to safeguard Burnley's share of the spoils.

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