Owen Coyle's record breakers...again

There's only one way to respond to a heavy defeat in any form of football and that's by winning your next game; for any side newly promoted to the Premier League it's all about that old soccer am coined phrase "bouncebackability" and that's exactly what Owen Colye's team showed on Saturday when Birmingham City came to town.

The only change saw Joey Gudjonsson drop out of the side to make way for the skipper Steven Caldwell in a move that saw Andre Bikey pushed into the middle of midfield. As the game began the players showed no ill effects of the 5-0 defeat to Spurs last weekend as they came flying out of the traps.

Birmingham had definitely come with the plan to try and frustrate us; Alex McLeish has built a team that is notoriously difficult to break down with a habit of nicking late goals. Sadly for their fans that's all they have to offer, perhaps that's why so few bothered to make the trip north to Turf Moor.

Burnley's first half probing saw no breakthrough as the blues defenders blocked everything in sight; including a couple of thunderbolts from Bikey. Nugent's shot from outside the box was the only effort of note as Joe Hart saved well. The away side also had their chances; confusion caused by a corner played out to Steven Carr left Lee Bowyer with the goal gaping as he somehow managed to miscue the ball away from goal.

As the half time whistle went the away following began to chant "4-4-2" in a misguided attempt to try and serenade their manager into ditching their policy of parking the bus. Sadly for them, their X Factor audition fell on deaf ears; although they did get changes in the form of Liam Ridgewell as a makeshift left back and the slightly more attacking Seb Larson, who was brought on to add abit of flair to the blue's drab midfield.

Before the oncoming pair had time to find their feet Burnley took the lead. Seven minutes into the second half Tyrone Mears quickly turned defence into attack as he broke from a Birmingham corner to find Steven Fletcher who drove forward before embarrassing Joe Hart to score his first official Premier League goal.

Minutes later Fletcher should've had his second as a beautifully lofted ball from Robbie Blake left the Scottish International one on one with Hart only for the ball to take an age to come back off the post. Turf Moor was once again rocking. It was only a matter of time before we got a second, Birmingham just couldn't cope with the pace of our game. Then came the move of the match, Andre Bikey skilful managed to make space before exchanging a perfect one two with Nugent before knocking the ball into the net past the oncoming Hart. A fantastic Burnley move and as Owen Coyle said, one that was worth the admission fee alone.

Birmingham's last kick of the game consolation couldn't even take the shine off a marvellous performance by Owen Coyle's team. The introduction of Andre Bikey into the middle paid dividends as once he got over a shaky first half due to his switch of position he grew and dominated the centre of the park along with Alexander throughout the second period. The added steel in that department along with the flawless return of skipper Steven Caldwell saw the spine of the team become much stronger than in previous weeks, allowing the likes of Wade Elliot, Steven Fletcher, David Nugent and Robbie Blake to play their natural inventive game.

The full backs are too playing their part, Stephen Jordan has proved all his doubters wrong with his consistency so far this term and Tyrone Mears, dominant in both defence and attack looks to be our signing of the summer. The Claret's right back definitely makes up for our lack of natural width on that flank with his tireless work rate.

At the Turf we continue to look very much at home in the Premier League and at this rate our survival party could be brought considerably forward from the last game of the season in May. If it was, it'd easily be a more debauched celebration than Simon Cowell's 50th. Who's betting that naked bloke in the car had something to do with Louis Walsh?

Saturday also saw us break the record for the number of straight home wins for a newly promoted side, one better than the landmark set by our neighbours Blackburn Rovers. And that's where we head next, to Ewood Park for the most anticipated game in years. Echo the cry with me, "Bring on the Bastards".