MANAGER Sean Dyche praised “a marvellous moment of quality”, which fired Burnley back to the top of the Championship.

Michael Kightly’s first of the season was enough to beat bottom club Barnsley and secure a first win in six league games.

The Clarets run had been called a ‘mini slump’ in some quarters, but Dyche said: “It’s an interesting one that, a ‘mini slump’ on the back of going from first to third and back to first.”

But the Burnley boss accepted his players had been made to put up strong resistance in the first half as managerless Barnsley, who had ex-Claret Micky Mellon in caretaker charge, tried to build on a first away of the season at Brighton in midweek and work their way up off the bottom of the table.

“I said to the lads afterwards the hardest fight you'll ever have is one against someone with nothing to lose,” said Dyche.

“Barnsley had nothing to lose and they played like it in the first half, they played with absolute freedom.

“That’s the toughest fight of all and I thought the lads overall did enough to win the game.

“Barnsley were the better side in the first half and kept the ball better with that freedom, but only once did we look in trouble in the half. The defensive framework was very good again to get another clean sheet.

“We gave them a little reminder at half-time of how good they can be and I was pleased with the response in the second half.

“You are always looking for that moment of quality and that was found by Michael Kightly. It was a fantastic goal, great awareness from him and a lovely finish.

“It was a marvellous moment of quality in a tough game.”