Prior to Saturday’s visit to Vicarage Road, Eddie Howe expressed astonishment at the abysmal nature of his new team’s away form.

The gist of his comments was that although he realised it was poor, he didn’t realise just how jaw-droppingly dismal the Clarets’ results were when charged with playing anywhere other than Turf Moor.

Naturally, this comes as no news to Burnley supporters: particularly those who spend every other Saturday, as well as the odd midweek evening, journeying the length and breadth of this green and pleasant land only to encounter disappointment at virtually every turn.

They are the very embodiment of the maxim “travelling more in hope than in expectation.”

So it’s good to report that thus far, the new manager has made a decent start in terms of turning around the team’s travel sickness; one point that could and probably should have been three at Scunthorpe United, victory for the first time in over a generation at Portsmouth and another victory at Watford.

Keen observers will have noticed the omission from the above list of the no-show at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium. But still, it’s a decent start. Seven away points from a possible 12 may not exactly be representative of Championship winning-form, and we will only know at the end of the season whether or not Howe has managed to lift the away-day curse, but it’s still a sight better than the fare that was being served up under the previous incumbent.

Everyone knows that statistics can be manipulated to support multiple viewpoints, yet there’s no getting away from the fact that the signs are encouraging.

Two away victories from the last three attempts should mean that Burnley travel to South Wales this evening in good spirits.

Not for no reason are Cardiff City sitting second in the table. Yet the oft-recited line about this being a division where anyone can beat anyone should give the Clarets hope.