IF THE old maxim is true that it's not losing but how you lose that counts, then surely the same can be applied to winning.

And as far as victories go, it's difficult to imagine the one recorded by the Clarets on Saturday will be bettered all season.

One member of the London Clarets was moved to comment that, "it's on days like these you realise why you're a football fan," while Steve Cotterill claimed, "this result was superb - given the circumstances, the best win I've ever had."

In short, Luton Town 2 Burnley 3 was a special result.

Prior to Burnley's visit, the Hatters were unbeaten at Kenilworth Road this season. A point would have been seen as a good result. To get all three was fantastic. To do so with 10 men and no goalkeeper, better still.

And, to cap it all, the win took us to our highest league placing of the campaign so far.

To be kept out of the top six on goal difference alone, whilst jostling for position with the clubs the size of Leeds United, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, is very satisfying and sends the Clarets into the two-week break in high spirits.

Much if the talk after the game centred around the performance of Ade Akinbiyi, which is hardly surprising. Ten league goals from 18 starts officially make Akinbiyi the most lethal marksman outside the Premiership.

He tops the leading scorers chart ahead of names such as Dean Ashton, Clinton Morrison and England hopeful Andy Johnson.

At £600,000, the man whose manager refers to him as, "an absolute gem," is proving terrific value for money.

The worry for Burnley supporters is that if Ade continues in this vein of form, interest will inevitably be shown from other clubs come January.

Neil Warnock and Dave Jones are known admirers and Akinbiyi will have done nothing to put them off this season.

Meanwhile, Brian Jensen's misjudgement means the club will have to stump up for a replacement keeper, which should have happened immediately after Coyne's injury.

Goalkeeper is the most specialist position on the pitch. To play without back-up is a risky strategy.