It was a close run thing as to what represented the more startling aspect of Saturday afternoon.

Was it that south London on the first weekend in October was exper-iencing temperatures more readily associated with the Caribbean, or the fact that Burnley FC finally managed to record a clean sheet?

Granted, that’s slightly flippant. But the shut-out at the New Den was the first time that an opposing team has failed to breach the Clarets defence in an incredible run of 24 league and cup games.

The last occasion a Burnley goalkeeper’s net failed to bulge was way back in March of this year, when Lee Grant managed to repel the best efforts of Hull City’s forwards at the KC Stadium.

Grant was again the hero on Saturday, coming to the rescue of a back line which could not truly be described as “solid.”

Still, a win is a win. And given that the Clarets invariably get the jitters when playing struggling teams, this was almost as unexpected as it was welcome.

Victory at Millwall rounded off another excellent week for the club.

The demolition of hapless Nott-ingham Forest in midweek was thrilling for a number of reasons.

Firstly, there was the sheer delight of seeing Burnley score five goals. That doesn’t, and shouldn’t, happen every week, so was to be savoured. Then there was the relief of seeing Jay Rodriguez kick-start his league season with a fine brace.

But most of all there were tantalising glimpses of what Eddie Howe’s side might be capable of. His is a threadbare squad, but one that has pace running all the way through it.

Kieran Trippier may not be the finished article defensively, but is quick to get forward and supp-lement the attack.

Junior Stanislas is also lightning. And his quick feet and crossing accuracy should cause plenty of headaches for opposition full-backs this season. And Jay-Rod and Charlie Austin are both nippy with a happy knack of scoring goals.

All this is built around a central midfield pairing which is showing real promise. Chris McCann we already know about.

But Marvin Bartley is proving a revelation. Suggestions that we have the new Patrick Vieira in our midst are probably best confined to the realms of hyperbole. But his physical strength, allied to good ball retention skills and a desire to get forward and support the attack, may yet win him the mantle of the new John Deary.

Now that the Clarets have garnered some confidence and momentum, it’s a shame that the international break is upon us.

But when Reading visit Turf Moor on Saturday week, they should be raring to go.

Read the Paul Fletcher and Dave Burnley columns only in today’s Lancashire Telegraph newspaper.