EYE-catching hotshot Wes Fletcher struck twice to send Burnley top of the totesport.com League, and knock rivals Preston off their perch.

After a goalless first half, the Clarets won comfortably in the end, and deservedly so after bossing this derby.

With three wins and one draw now, Ashley Hoskin's young charges demonstrated why they remain unbeaten this season by keeping possession and well and building attacks patiently from back to front.

Their persistence was rewarded when Fletcher struck twice in as many second-half minutes to settle this tie.

The 20-year-old youth product and Alex MacDonald were in particularly determined mood and fashioned Burnley's best chances before the break.

The Clarets made steady progress in the opening 15 minutes but MacDonald's rising right-foot drive was the best they could conjure up to that point.

Central defender Nik Kudiersky, playing his first game since January after recovering from cruciate knee ligament damage, then had an effort from a corner cleared off the line.

A long ball from the back reached Fletcher moments later, when Conor McLaughlin failed to deal with it, but after leaving his marker with twisted blood, Fletcher unleashed a right-foot shot inside the box straight at goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou.

The hard-working striker almost scored after winning a 50-50 ball with Arestidou and then chased down the rebound, while MacDonald set up a couple more chances before the break that Burnley couldn't take.

MacDonald and Fletcher deserved some reward for their endless endeavour, and Fletcher got his - benefiting from MacDonald's right-wing cross - just before the hour.

He got his second bang on 60 minutes after holding off ex-Claret Neal Trotman when he chased Kudiersky's knock forward.

Fletcher was denied a hat-trick in the 68th minute when his shot from a tight angle was tipped around the near left post.

But his fourth and fifth goals of the season were enough for Burnley to replace Preston in pole position.

BURNLEY (4-4-1-1): Ben Woodhead; Ed Williams, Nik Kudiersky, Chris Lynch, Curtis Wood; Alex MacDonald, Chris Anderson, David Lynch, Dominic Knowles; Joe McKee (Ross Wilson 87); Wes Fletcher. Subs not used: Tom Anderson, Joe Jackson, Steven Hewitt, Seamus McCartan, Josh Cook.

PRESTON (4-1-4-1): Andreas Arestidou; Conor McLaughlin, Fred Holtom (Daniel Forbes 84), Neal Trotman, Sam Hart; Bailey Wright; Doyle Middleton, Ryan Croasdale (Matt Dudley 62), George Miller, Reece James; Michael McLellan. Subs not used: Dominic Comrie, Luke Clark.