And another win at Leicester

Give these Leicester fans some credit, they know their football, and they got it absolutely right. This was a performance to savour and quite how we won it by just one goal still takes some working out.

The memories of recent trips to Derby, Coventry and the likes faded into the distance as this new look, and positive Burnley side, went out to win the game and had the vociferous and at times deafening away support hanging on their every move.

The winner came right on half time, at the very same end of the ground where Ade Akinbiyi scored the winner last season, and it was a goal deserving of winning the game. Alan Mahon, without doubt becoming our free kick expert, and with this one he found Andy Gray who fired his header in for his first goal of the season.

It really would have been an injustice had we gone into the break level after giving the home side a torrid time once we'd settled into the game. That took all of five minutes, and from then on I can hardly remember the home side giving us any problems at all other than a free kick which was well saved by Brian Jensen.

But down the other end there were a number of real let offs for Leicester as we turned in one of the best away performances I can recall under Steve Cotterill's management. In a five minute spell just after the half hour I'm sure the home side will still be wondering quite how they came out of it without conceding a goal.

Twice we hit the woodwork, and was it any surprise that Mahon was involved in both with dead ball kicks? Firstly, his corner caused problems for Leicester in their own box but eventually they got the ball out but only as far as Wade Elliott. He hit a stinging first time shot that left keeper Henderson helpless but came crashing back off the bar.

It was so unlucky but within two minutes we'd done it again and it led to an amazing scramble. We won a free kick on the left hand side, some thirty yards or so from goal, and Mahon hit it beautifully. Again Henderson had no chance as it curled towards goal but it hit the underside of the bar.

Micah Hyde was first onto it and his shot was incredibly blocked by a defender, Jones tried to turn it in and it was blocked again and eventually scrambled away for a corner. You began to wonder if it might not just be our night but another set piece, another great delivery from Mahon and the Gray goal took us into half time just where we deserved to be – in front.

There was little change in the second half, they just hit more long balls that didn't trouble us for the most part, and more than once we came close to doubling the lead. Wade Elliott was causing them some real problems down the flank and twice we only just failed to get on the end of his crosses.

With just under twenty minutes to go we thought we'd clinched it when Jones got clear in the box but somehow the defender got back to clear the effort and that gave Leicester some hope and so began their bombardment, in particular aiming balls at Josh Low (whose one attribute appears to be his size) down the right wing.

With the clock showing 78 minutes, Jensen made an excellent save down to his right at the expense of a corner, yes 78 minutes and this was the first chance they had created. From the corner they hit the top of the bar and we thought that might be that.

But the Beast had other ideas and gave them an opportunity with an amazing error but thankfully he recovered the situation at the second attempt although it didn't spare him some harsh words from captain Wayne Thomas.

Thomas was right to have a go but when the keeper came and caught a ball a couple of minutes later, there was Thomas again to pat him on the back of the head and say well done. And well done to the skipper as well.

Leicester continued to hit the long balls, Steve Cotterill used his subs, and we dealt with it all and finally ended that long run without an away win. At the final whistle the fans celebrated, we all knew we'd seen a very good performance.

Choosing a man of the match has proved difficult and in making my decision I really have to apologise to the other ten players because in their own ways, each and everyone of them could stake a claim.

The central defenders were at their best, they dealt with the bombardment and finding a mistake was difficult. The two forwards provided us with options throughout and either of them were deserving winners.

But I'm opting for our oft maligned midfield area where Micah Hyde and Chris McCann turned in superb performances, but alongside them is my choice Alan Mahon. He excites and I really cannot forget his set pieces to add to everything else. What a difficult decision though, and all for the right reasons.

More of this at Hillsborough on Saturday would go down very well. “We are top of the league,” cried the Burnley fans before the game. We're second now but we are more than happy with that – and don't forget the advise from the Burnley fans, do not insist on a particular brand of crisps.

The teams were;

Leicester: Paul Henderson, Richard Stearman, Patrick McCarthy, Patrick Kisnorbo, Darren Kenton, Alan Maybury (Josh Low 61), Andy Johnson, Gareth Williams (Stephen Hughes 45), Danny Tiatto (Elvis Hammond 73), Matt Fryatt, Iain Hume. Subs not used: Conrad Logan, Nils-Eric Johansson.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Wayne Thomas, Michael Duff, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (James O'Connor 81), Micah Hyde, Chris McCann, Alan Mahon (Kyle Lafferty 86), Andy Gray (Stephen Foster 89), Steve Jones. Subs not used: John McGreal, Garreth O'Connor.

Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham).

Attendance: 19,035.