BURNLEY1 WIGAN0

'OUT with the old and in with the new' is how the saying goes at this time of year.

And as 2005 looms, the first part of that prophecy looks destined to be fulfilled with the imminent departure from Turf Moor of Robbie Blake.

Clarets boss Steve Cotterill, who finally admitted he is now resigned to life without Blake, has surely now earned a major slice of the expected £1.5million fee to fill the second part of the mantra.

But until the 'new' materialises, all of Cotterill's familiar faces were yesterday the toast of Burnley as opposite number Paul Jewell slunk away from Turf Moor after tasting defeat on the pitch and finally admitting defeat in his pursuit of Birmingham-bound Blake.

Clarets fans had wasted little time letting Jewell know what they thought of his laughable attempts to land Blake on the cheap in recent weeks.

The bitter Latics boss, who later moaned that Burnley would not now sell Blake to his club for £3m, was roundly booed all the way to his dug out by the Turf Moor faithful, who have suffered a month of uncertainty surrounding their captain and top scorer since Wigan's original £500,000 approach.

However, the boos were not solely reserved for Jewell as Blake, who recently indicated he wanted to leave Turf Moor for the JJB Stadium, also got a mixed reaction from home fans on his introduction to the crowd.

Blake's inclusion on the bench had raised eyebrows approaching kick-off, since most people either expected the unsettled striker to either start, or find himself omitted from the 16-man squad.

But what better time for the Clarets to roll up their collective sleeves up and dispel the theory that life without Blake might be unbearable?

His exclusion handed Ian Moore a rare chance to lead the line, while Graham Branch celebrated being handed the captain's armband with his second goal in as many games.

But it was from the back that the foundations for a memorable victory were built, with Brian Jensen a formidable barrier behind an impenetrable defence magnificently marshalled by centre backs John McGreal and Gary Cahill.

No matter what Wigan threw at Burnley, the Clarets stood tall. Their two full backs worked tirelessly, the midfield latched onto black-shirted Latics like leeches and lone-striker Moore never gave the visitors' defence a moment's peace all afternoon.

The jet-heeled striker looked to have slipped the shackles of last man Emerson Thome after only eight minutes and the Brazilian was lucky to escape after appearing to clip Moore's heels as he turned for goal.

Former Blackburn midfielder Alan

Mahon tested Jensen for the first time with a free kick at the end of a scrappy opening quarter of an hour.

And as Wigan began to exploit pockets of space in behind the Burnley midfield, 14-goal Nathan Ellington really should have put them ahead in the 21st minute,

Gareth Whalley's reverse pass dissected the entire defence and as Jensen tried to close down the angle, Ellington's cocky chip beat the advancing keeper but floated onto the roof of the net.

And within three minutes, that miss proved costly and Turf Moor erupted as skipper for the day Branch rifled the Clarets ahead.

Michael Duff's right wing cross hung in the air for an eternity before Ian Moore's header looked to be clawed back from behind the line by John Filan.

However, Branch eliminated all doubt by following up his goal at Sunderland ten days earlier with a clinical finish, before indulging in a joyous dive in front of the visiting fans.

Wigan tried to summon up an instant response through Mahon before Micah Hyde earned himself a fifth booking of the season and a suspension when he felled David Graham as the former Torquay midfielder engineered another break.

But Burnley ended the half stronger and Cahill was unlucky to see his shot on the turn blocked following Hyde's mis-hit shot.

Paint was clearly stripped from the Latics dressing room at half time and the visitors sprung from the traps - Lee McCulloch bringing a smart save from Jensen with a firm 20-yard effort and the Dane then rushing from goal to clear as Ellington sensed blood.

But as Wigan turned the screw, so gaps were left at the back and Branch should have done better as he blazed over from Duff's deep cross.

Galloping left back Mo Camara then set off on one of his trademark runs before stinging Filan's gloves with a rising drive from the corner of the box.

And following a determined spell of holding up the ball near the corner flag, Moore then created an opening for James O'Connor, whose first time volley was too high to trouble Filan.

Wigan forced their first corner of the game in the 73rd minute and, following a half-clearance, Jensen made his best save of the day by blocking sub Mike Flynn's skidding 25-yard effort.

Jimmy Bullard, who led the assault on Burnley territory as the clock ticked down, then fizzed Wigan's umpteenth drive from distance over the angle of Jensen's crossbar and post.

By now, Burnley fans everywhere were nervously glancing at watches, and the cheer could be heard in Wigan when Bullard's stoppage time free kick was finally nodded wide by Ellington.

The last action of an eventful year was, more than likely, also the end of an era.

Blake's goals have illuminated Turf Moor over the past three years and his walk to the tunnel yesterday was surely his last before heading for the Midlands.

Nobody really knows what the New Year might hold, but there is life after Blake and here was the proof.

Now, Burnley fans will dream that anything is possible.