WINNING POSITION POSITIVITY

BURNLEY are one of only four teams in the Premier League who haven’t lost from winning positions - the others being Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs, so they are in very good company.

In addition, the Clarets have conceded only eight first half goals all season.

You sensed that once they had raced into a 2-0 lead there was no way back for Leicester City - even at that early stage and even with the likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez in the opposition ranks - such is the confidence oozing from this team.

Burnley were not as fluid in the second half as they had been for much of the first, but that had more to do with the Foxes giving everything to overhaul a two-goal deficit than any deficiencies on the Clarets' part.

But even after Vardy pulled a goal back with almost 20 minutes of the 90 to play there was no panic from the home side because they make it tough for teams to beat them, particularly when they score.

EURO VISION

THE Europa League stakes were high against a side who could have put pressure on Burnley's position and closed the gap on them to three points.

There are five games still to go, but stretching their advantage to nine points had Leicester City manager Claude Puel waving the white flag post-match and congratulating the Clarets.

It could well have been a case of reverse psychology, lulling Burnley into a false sense of security.

Ending the season against Spurs at Wembley, after facing Arsenal at home, they have arguably the more challenging finale. But with the Gunners to face at the Emirates next month and Chelsea at home on Thursday night it's not the easiest of run-ins for Burnley either.

But, with the gap to Arsenal reduced to just two points - at least until this afternoon when Arsene Wenger's face a trip to Newcastle - perhaps the Clarets should be aiming higher still.

LONG HAUL

FEW Burnley players in recent years have had to be as patient as Kevin Long.

Signed by Owen Coyle from Cork City after Burnley's first promotion to the Premier League, he has been with the club for eight years but has not yet reached 50 appearances.

His top flight debut in the Clarets' second top flight spell was cruelly cut short by injury, and there were subsequent loan moves to Barnsley and MK Dons.

But after every setback, Long has bounced back. And still only 27, he has shown this year especially that he has the potential to be a regular at this level.

Whenever he has played this season, be it standing in for James Tarkowski or Ben Mee, he has done well. He had a chastening experience against Harry Kane, but who doesn’t? Other than that he has been a solid presence at the back and worked well alongside his central defensive partner.

And on Saturday he added a first league goal to his Clarets CV, with Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane watching from the stands.

WOOD'S ON FIRE

WHILE it was a first for Long, Chris Wood hit double figures for his debut Clarets season with the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Leicester.

And the tally is all the more impressive given that the New Zealand international has missed two months with injury.

It is no coincidence that Burnley struggled without him. Wood did not play in nine of the 11 games the Clarets went without a win.

His comeback has been emphatic, scoring five goals in as many games. That's half of his return since becoming a club record £15million signing from Leeds, having started the campaign at Elland Road.

The partnership between top scorer Wood and Ashley Barnes has been noted for its goals, but against the Foxes Barnes showed a great awareness of his strike partner in laying on the assist.

You can only imagine how much he would have contributed to the goals for column without that lengthy absence, and how high Burnley could be aiming.

SET PIECE STAT

WHILE Wood's goal came from open play, Burnley celebrated another from a set piece.

They have been few and far between all season, with the Clarets scoring the least set piece goals in the Premier League with seven before Saturday's game.

Long's header from Johann Berg Gudmundsson's corner made it eight.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is always striving for finding different ways to win games and at the business end of the season they have hit upon another, with three of their last four goals coming from set pieces.