BURNLEY Under-23s boss Michael Duff praised his young Clarets side as they claimed all three points after a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, writes Joshua Bunting.

The win at Curzon Ashton's Tameside Stadium was Burnley's first in the league since November and ended a five game run without a victory or a goal.

Goals from Tunde Bayode, Christian N'Guessan and James Clarke secured success for Duff's side and he was pleased to see a recent improvement in performances rewarded.

"I thought we were excellent. The performances have got better in the last few weeks," the former Clarets centre half said.

"It’s been tough, and I’ve said a lot we’ve been playing against older teams.

"Tonight, they were slightly younger, so it was a similar sort of age and it does make a big difference. Two or three years development does make a difference.

“It was pleasing. I thought we were excellent from minute-one.

“The only disappointment was the two goals because I don’t remember Mitch (Conor Mitchell) making a save and we had numerous chances and could have scored several times.

“It looked like it clicked a little bit and I think the shape gave us an opportunity to express ourselves.

“It’s been a tough run, there’s no getting away from it."

Burnley took the lead on 11 minutes as Bayode latched on to a Tinashe Chakwana cross to lash his effort into the net.

Duff’s side were playing with a newfound confidence and could have had their second on 17 minutes when Dwight McNeil met a cross from Chakwana from close range, but he directed his header wide.

The Clarets were then made to rue their missed chance as Forest levelled when Issac Hutchinson’s corner went all the way in via a deflection that confused Mitchell.

But Burnley responded well and could have gone back ahead immediately when Bayode skipped past the challenge of Joe Coveney but his cross was inches away from finding the feet of the onrushing Harvey White at the back post.

In a half that lacked many clear-cut chances it was Burnley who created a fantastic opportunity to go ahead on 33 minutes as Anel Ahmedhodzic lost possession on the edge of his own box, allowing McNeil to pick up the loose ball, but his powerful drive was well kept out by the legs of Liam Bossin in the Forest goal.

Duffs side started the second half on top and went 2-1 ahead inside the first three minutes as Ali Koiki’s floated freekick into the box fell perfectly to the feet of N’Guessan and he thumped his strike into the back of the net.

Ntumba Massanka was inches away from scoring a stunning third for the home side as he attempted a chip from 25 yards out that was tipped over the crossbar by the superb reactions of Bossin.

Bossin then made two fine saves in two minutes as Bayode was played through on goal by Massanka, but his powerful drive was parried by the onrushing Forest stopper.

McNeil was then denied by the same man as he met Oliver Younger's pass perfectly but his effort was pushed away by the keeper.

However, it was 3-1 for the Clarets with twenty minutes remaining when Clarke thumped a header into the net from close range after a perfectly placed McNeil cross.

Forest did pull a goal back deep in stoppage time through Choz Charlesworth’s finish but Northern Ireland Under-21 international Mitchell suffered few other alarms in an impressive night’s work as the keeper captained the Clarets to a much-needed win.

Burnley: Mitchell, Clarke, Barrett, Younger, Koiki, N’Guessan (Nabi 87), Bayode (Jackson 78), White, McNeil (Birch 87), Chakwana, Massanka. Substitutes: Stone, Wood.