Now we're motoring

AFTER six hours sitting in a car, getting lost in London and snarled up in countless traffic queues to arrive at the New Den at a quarter-to-three, you are left wondering if it's all worthwhile.

But after watching a game like this and seeing Burnley secure a stunning away victory, you realise again why it's not such a bad old job after all.

In fact there is more joy to be had for Clarets' fans setting off for all points south, east and west than there's to be found up the road at Turf Moor at the moment.

Saturday's victory over an in-form Millwall side, courtesy of goals from Andy Cooke and Steve Davis, was Burnley's second away win in succession, while they haven't picked up maximum points in a home game since the end of November.

That might explain why an excellent following of 814 travelling supporters made the trip to be rewarded by arguably Burnley's most impressive performance of the season in a cracking match.

Whereas Stan Ternent's side flew by the seat of their pants and relied partially on the wastefulness of the Bristol Rovers' forwards in their previous away success.

In the Lions' Den, the Clarets defended with more steel and far greater passion.

Their attacking instincts remained just as strong, however, which is why Burnley suddenly look so well equipped on the road.

Not relied upon to force the pace, they are defending better and counter-attacking with real purpose, aided an abetted by the revitalised Cooke, the fit-again Glen Little and the quick-breaking Micky Mellon.

The availability of the latter two has added to the strength in depth of Burnley's re-shaped squad.

Ternent still wants to add to it but, in the absence of the injured Ally Pickering and the not fully fit Graham Branch, he was able to call on Neil Moore and Mark Ford and still not find a place on the bench for Chris Brass.

Ford returned in central midfield and turned in a solid performance as Gordon Armstrong moved across to the left to fill the gap left by Branch's absence from the starting line-up.

The heavily-bandaged Armstrong is gradually working his way through most positions in the side and the fact that he played with a dozen stitches in a head wound made his performance even more commendable.

Moore, along with his defensive colleagues, took most of the plaudits, however.

The former skipper's last starting appearance came in the home fixture against Millwall at the end of August when he picked up a knee injury. Down the pecking order as a central defender, Moore made the most of his chance at right-back with one of his most commanding displays for the club to prove that Ternent is starting to get the competition for places he wants.

If Burnley can now start performing at home then the omens are good, although there have been enough false dawns in the club's recent history to get too carried away just yet. Consistency remains the key.

That's a quality Millwall have displayed in recent weeks with just one defeat in 10 games.

They looked to embellish that record with a whirlwind start which had Burnley rocking as Lucas Neill struck the inside of a post with a free-kick which was allowed to travel untouched across the face of goal.

But Burnley hung in with some last-ditch tackles and then stung their visitors with a goal out of nothing.

Little was the catalyst as he collected a defensive clearance and skipped round Robbie Ryan before clipping over a cross which just eluded Andy Payton on the near post but not Cooke behind him, the on-song striker stooping to head home his third goal in as many games.

Mellon almost increased that lead five minutes later with a storming run that was ended only by Nigel Spink's save as Burnley proved their prowess on the break.

Defensively the visitors were still being tested though, as Millwall moved forward with pace and verve.

Tim Cahill had a hat-trick of efforts that weren't too far away and Moore just did enough to deny Neill equalising at the back post before Paul Crichton made the first of only two real saves in the match.

Burnley invariably made a telling tackle just when it was required but this time Neil Harris was set free only to be thwarted by the bravery of Crichton who blocked at his feet. The Clarets needed a second goal to give them an insurance policy against a Millwall strike and either side of half-time they went close to getting it.

However, Little's deft chip floated just over the top before Cooke collected a Davis through-ball and rounded the on-rushing Spink but failed to hit the target.

It was at times all hands to the pump at the back as Mellon headed off the line but with Mellon and Ford stopping the flow in midfield, Millwall chances were few and far between.

The platform was also there for Burnley to get forward and the magic of Little coupled to a clinical execution from Davis proved the Lions' undoing.

Little's trickery won a free-kick 25 yards out and when the ball was rolled to him the outstanding Davis made it 2-0 with a shot of unerring accuracy into the corner.

More mesmerising play from Little could have handed Branch a third before Burnley finally switched off at the other end and Richard Sadlier headed home to cause a few late flutters.

Steve Morgan came to the rescue, though, to deny Paul Shaw as the stock of the previously maligned defender continues to rise as rapidly as his team.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.