ADRIAN Heath and Steve McMahon crossed the turf and warmly embraced each other at the final whistle.

Pals and old adversaries on the pitch. Both avid students of the game at Goodison Park and Anfield.

More clubs than Jack Nicklaus between them and both starting out on a bold new venture as their playing days draw to a close.

McMahon and Heath have their eagle-eyes fixed firmly on the same goal: success in the cut-and thrust world of football management.

Macca is chasing the promised land of the First Division in May. While Heath is infusing a quick fix of stability into a previously ailing Burnley.

Both men WILL succeed in time because both characters, by their very nature, are winners in a tough and demanding profession.

While the fruits of the Endsleigh League top flight may have to wait another season before Burnley can stake a claim for membership of the elite again, already the signs are most encouraging.

Heath has begun his task in earnest and from each of his three games in charge Burnley supporters can draw something positive.

After months of malaise, anger and tedium, the rich lifeblood of football ambition and drive is pumping through Turf Moor's veins again.

And if further evidence of that were required it arrived against deposed Second Division leaders Swindon Town.

Ten days into Adrian Heath's brave new world, the Clarets chief is breathing new life into Burnley.

Brave, swashbuckling and stimulating, were a few of the words which could adequately describe this Burnley performance.

The Clarets, in my book, turned in their best forty-five minutes in front of a Turf Moor audience this season.

Burnley's football was controlled and appealing to the eye. The whole team worked, harried and chased. The players were bright and responsive. Most of all they appeared keen and eager to impress their new manager.

Already the ideas Heath is trying to introduce and impose are plain to see.

The pass and play style he favours is already prevalent.

At Bloomfield Road, Burnley's football was superior to Blackpool for an hour.

They emerged with great credit, honour and respect.

Clearly, there is an unmistakable air of rejuvenation and a genuine spring in Burnley's step.

While on the terraces you detect a new self-belief in the club after months of tiresome political turmoil.

Heath's appointment appears to be almost universally welcomed.

The atmosphere and vibes at Turf Moor on Saturday were the best I have experienced this season and Heath received a tremendous welcome.

Most, importantly, though, it is out on the field of play where progress appears to be made.

Lets's face facts: a month ago Swindon would have steamrollered Burnley into submission.

But already the dark days of Oxford United and Carlisle United are but a fading memory.

Burnley dominated and dictated for the first half while their opponents, in turn, dominated the second period.

Defensively Burnley appeared sound, even when Swindon turned the screw after half-time on the back of a few sharp words from McMahon.

An example of that marked progress is a second clean sheet in a week, something which was not achieved this year before Heath took charge.

You can see the self-belief and confidence visibly flooding back into the defensive ranks.

Mark Winstanley and Gerry Harrison, a revelation in his last two outings, were outstanding at the heart of the Clarets defence, while Gary Parkinson, pictured top right, and Chris Vinnicombe kept Swindon at bay with their overlapping defensive roles.

The Clarets' cutting edge saw Andy Cooke team up with Kurt Nogan in attack.

And Burnley were desperately unlucky not to stun Swindon on 90 seconds.

A swift interchange between Cooke and Nogan saw Turf Moor's leading marksman beat Frank Talia in the Swindon goal, only to see his effort deflected on to the foot of the post off the boot of Mark Seagraves.

That start gave Burnley added impetus and Swindon had a real fight on their hands to contain Adrian Heath's lads.

The ex-Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper was called upon again. A Gary Parkinson centre caught the Swindon defence flat-footed and a Warren Joyce header was palmed away.

Kevin Horlock had an effort well saved by Marlon Beresford and Gerry Harrison's quality covering denied Mark Robinson after industrious work by Horlock. The second period belonged to Swindon. And probably the talking point of the game as the visitors were denied a clear shout for a penalty.

Kevin Horlock created the danger and, as Steve Finney, prepared to fire his close range effort at goal, Mark Winstanley caught his heels from behind.

McMahon was livid on the bench as the referee waved play on.

It was the signal for Swindon to turn up the heat and twice they had efforts cleared off the line, as Warren Joyce and Gerry Harrison made exceptional goal-line clearances.

In the end a point each was just about right result. It marked another step in the right direction for Burnley under Adrian Heath and left McMahon chasing his championship dream.

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