JANUARY

New year, new manager, as Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe was appointed Brian Laws’ successor mid-month.

Striker Charlie Austin and midfielder Marvin Bartley arrived before the transfer window closed, and Howe’s first win came at his old club, Portsmouth, against the Clarets’ boss, Steve Cotterill.

Burnley had waited until Boxing Day to take maximum points from an away fixture. Howe doubled their tally in only his second game in charge.

FEBRUARY

Martin Paterson suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury as Howe suffered his first defeat at Doncaster. Burnley made amends by going on a three-game unbeaten run, before being dumped out of the FA Cup – although the 5-1 fifth round scoreline flattered West Ham in the end.

A 2-1 win at Preston was not only the highlight of the month but, perhaps, the season. Jay Rodriguez became an England Under 21 international in a friendly away to Italy.

Austin got off to a false start by suffering a dislocated shoulder on the training ground.

MARCH

Burnley’s unbeaten league run extended to six games thanks to back-to-back 1-0 wins at home to Palace and away to Hull City – with debutant Nathan Delfouneso scoring on his debut after arriving on loan from Aston Villa.

That put the Clarets into the play-off hunt, but their good work was undone by picking up only one point from a possible nine before the international break.

APRIL

An action-packed month started badly and ended with their outside chance of a place in the play-offs killed off at Leeds.

But the return of Chris McCann put smiles on Burnley fans’ faces. The midfielder had been sidelined with a knee problem that had dogged him throughout the Premier League season. But he made up for lost time by scoring the last goal in a 4-2 win at Derby County.

MAY

Burnley signed off with a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City, whose campaign continued through the play-offs.

It was a sign of things to come as McCann led the team out. He would go on to get the armband permanently.

Striker Steven Thompson and midfielder Kevin McDonald were told their contracts would not be renewed and they were free to leave the club.

JUNE

Attentions turned to matters off the field as work started on improving Burnley’s Gawthorpe training base, including a new changing room and shower area, canteen, office and rehab room.

JULY

After releasing Graham Alexander, selling Chris Iwelumo to Watford and allowing Clarke Carlisle to go on a season-long loan to Preston, Burnley’s pre-season tour came to a sour end as Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears went to Bolton Wanderers and were ultimately reunited with the man who brought them to Turf Moor, Owen Coyle. Howe moved quickly to bring in Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee on loan from Manchester City.

AUGUST

Howe went on to secure long-term target Keith Treacy from rivals Preston just before the 2011/12 season began, and the Dubliner came off the bench to score on his debut at home to Watford.

Burnley’s summer recruitment drive continued with the capture of Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines from West Ham, goalkeeper Jon Stewart and striker Danny Ings from his old club Bournemouth. Danny Fox and Wade Elliott were sold to Southampton and Birmingham respectively.

Ings suffered a serious injury in only his second training session, while Paterson suffered a huge setback – tearing his thigh muscle again on the opening day of the season.

SEPTEMBER

Burnley recovered from a poor start to the month by recording their biggest win of the season – 5-1 at home to Nottingham Forest. The result followed on from a solid performance in their 1-1 draw at home to high flying Southampton. The Clarets reached the fourth round of the Carling Cup thanks to Andre Amougou’s last-minute winner over MK Dons.

Goalkeeper Brian Jensen was injured in the defeat at Peterborough, which proved to be his last game of 2011.

Behind the scenes, the doors of UCFB opened to its first student intake.

OCTOBER

The month got underway with a first clean sheet and a win at Millwall, but Burnley struggled to get going again after the two-week break for internationals.

Back-to-back wins over Coventry and Blackpool provided a timely boost, but they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Cardiff in between those games.

NOVEMBER

The trip to Hull provided what could prove to be the turning point in Burnley’s season. The Clarets were on the brink of dropping into the drop zone after four straight defeats, but a comeback at the KC Stadium triggered a revival. Sam Vokes, who had been added to the squad on loan from Wolves, troubled the Tigers after coming on at half-time, David Edgar got his first goals for the club to level, before Rodriguez grabbed a last-minute winner.

Momentum continued with a 4-0 win at home to Ipswich, which was all the more pleasing given that Austin was again sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.

DECEMBER

There’s one more game to go this year, but the picture for 2012 is looking positive all the same as the Boxing Day win over Doncaster Rovers leaves Burnley three points outside the play-offs.

They passed their tests of character to win at West Ham, and dig in against nine-man Brighton’s battlers. Paterson marked his return from injury too, followed by Austin. With Ings and Jensen expected to be fit again soon into the new year, the squad is looking strong for the second half of the season, providing Howe can keep hold of his stars, and add to them.