IAN Cox and Drissa Diallo could not have wished for a more comfortable night against Premiership opposition.

But it was thanks to their early challenges that Fulham began to get frustrated.

Cox was given the task of marking Junichi Inamoto, while Diallo was keeping tabs on Louis Saha - and they marshalled both of them well.

Before Burnley scored, Diallo made a superbly timed challenge on Saha as he looked to burst through the middle. An early goal for the visitors would have dented the Clarets fervour but the central defensive partnership kept The Cottagers front two at bay.

Just as crucial was Cox's speed and accuracy in winning the ball from Inamoto as they defended a 2-0 lead just before the break. All too wary of previous games where leads have been squandered, Cox surprised the Japanese striker as he stole possession from him and launched the ball upfield as lost his balance.

The fact that Burnley didn't allow Fulham time on the ball anywhere on the pitch gave the defenders the opportunity to go forward as well.

Cox might have got on the scoresheet as he turned to shoot from close range late in the second half, while Diallo, who had popped up whenever Jean Tigana's men tried to make an impression in attack to clear the danger, scored a wonderful header after hanging high in the air to seal a memorable night for the Clarets.