DEFENDER Steven Caldwell had the best of both worlds at Southampton on Saturday.

The Clarets captain's primary target is always a clean sheet.

But he has also been determined to add more goals to his game this season.

The 27-year-old was naturally delighted to secure both at St Mary's Stadium, as Burnley recorded a 1-0 win from their penultimate away fixture of the 2007-08 campaign courtesy of his second goal of the season.

But he admitted the shut-out - Burnley's first in six games - was more significant.

"Obviously it's always nice to score but it really is nicer to get a clean sheet," said Caldwell.

"I'm delighted to score; I should score more goals than what I have been in the last two or three seasons, but it's good to be part of a clean sheet. We've not had one for a wee while so it was very pleasing.

"I think Southampton had a lot of the ball in the first half and decent possession but we defended pretty well, and just to nick the goal before half-time gave us something to hold on to and it was a real team defensive display, and really pleasing because we've been losing too many goals lately.

"But we were solid today. We really had the clean sheet at the forefront of our minds. It's something that we always want, obviously - every team wants clean sheets. We always want to play well and score goals - we're that kind of team; we're exciting, we've got some exciting players, but today the emphasis was on the clean sheet and being hard to beat, and solid.

"I think it probably affected our performance a little bit because we know we can play better football than that, but you have to have that basis away from home.

"We came into the game and had that mindset, and the team was solid. The lads at the front really helped us to do what we're good at, which is to keep the shape and head it and kick it away."

He added: "It's the type of performance where it's great to be a defender in a game like that. It's not pretty and things aren't quite smooth and to come away with a 1-0 it's a great feeling; knowing that we've not played near our best, we've sort of kept them to few chances, and when they have had chances we've either defended with our lives or Brian Jensen has made some fantastic saves.

"The second save he made (at the end of the second half) was a superb strike - it was moving everywhere - and that's important that everyone's played their part."

While Caldwell was delighted with an all-round defensive display, the former Sunderland stopper was full of praise for the role Robbie Blake had in securing a ninth away win of the season.

"Blakey put in some great balls. We've had a great save just before the goal from Chris McCann's header from Blakey's free kick," said Caldwell.

"We said at the start we felt we had a threat today and could maybe get something from a set play.

"The ball for the goal was quality. You just have to skim your head on that to get a goal.

"Fair play to Blakey, he's grafted away hard in probably what's not his favourite position but one moment of class came from his right foot and thankfully I was there just to nod it in."

sgeldard@the-lt.co.uk