AFTER some horrible days at the Hawthorns this was an afternoon to savour for Burnley and Sean Dyche.

For some reason this place has been the Clarets’ kryptonite under Dyche, who also broke his leg at the same ground as a 17-year-old Nottingham Forest youngster.

Both trips to West Brom in the Premier League had ended in 4-0 defeats, two of the five occasions Burnley have shipped four under Dyche, but on Saturday those disappointments were long forgotten, as was Dyche’s personal disappointment.

He stood on the touchline admiring some of his side’s fine football, collecting his 100th win as Burnley boss in his 252nd game in charge. Meanwhile the magnificent 2,700 travelling fans belted out songs about going on a European tour, while the hosts contemplate life in the Championship. It was a cathartic day.

It had been a long three weeks without a game for the Clarets, who had feared momentum would stall after the rampant 3-0 win at West Ham.

But after another international week in which pride at Turf Moor had swelled thanks to James Tarkowski’s first England cap Burnley were back in action with a bang.

The back-to-back wins secured before the break were thanks to Chris Wood cameos from the bench, coming on to partner Ashley Barnes in a partnership that showed plenty of promise.

Seven years on from their last start together, for Brighton in League One, they were unleashed in the Premier League for the first time on Saturday and they continued where they had left off at the London Stadium.

Burnley were comfortable in the first half, enjoying plenty of possession with the excellent Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork dictating the tempo and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, starting in place of the injured Johann Berg Gudmundsson, enjoying a bright start, but it was a moment of magic from Barnes that broke the deadlock.

Aaron Lennon’s cross was slightly behind Barnes, but the striker has made a habit of the spectacular in the Premier League and he swivelled to hook a wonderful, acrobatic volley over his shoulder and crashing beyond Ben Foster.

Barnes was scoring in a fourth successive Premier League game and Wood was on the hunt for a goal in a third straight game.

He could have had it before half-time, glancing a header wide and skewing a shot off target in acres of space on the break.

West Brom’s threat had been limited but Nick Pope had to plunge low to his left to push Salomon Rondon’s header away on the stroke of half-time.

But in a battle of strike partnerships, with Jay Rodriguez - given a rapturous reception from the away end - partnering Rondon, this was all about Barnes and Wood.

The Kiwi got his goal 18 minutes from time. Matt Lowton’s clever pass found him in space and although he was denied by Foster at the first attempt he was able to head into an empty net from six yards for an eighth Premier League goal of the season.

The away end were in fine voice now, but West Brom had enough fight to give the Clarets a scare, Rondon firing home from 12 yards after finding space against Tarkowski.

There were a couple of nervy moments in the closing stages but Burnley weren’t to be denied a third straight win.

After a run of 11 league games without success the Clarets are well and truly back. European football is a step closer.