Goals from Danny Ings and Martin Paterson, one in each half, had given us a win that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests and as hoards of home fans stormed onto the pitch in protest at what now looks an almost inevitable second relegation in two seasons, almost trapping Ings and Kieran Trippier in the process, there were massive smiles amongst the away fans perched high above Molineux in the upper reaches of the new Stan Cullis Stand at that final whistle.
The memories of that awful night at Leeds a week last Tuesday were forgotten as Burnley returned to the sort of form that has generally been shown away from home and we looked a side head and shoulders better than that of Wolves who, just over a year earlier, had been playing Premier League under the guidance of Mick McCarthy.
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| My view from the front row |
There were still lingering doubts about our place in the second tier of English football when our trip to Wolves got underway yesterday. We hadn't won our last away game of the season since that glorious day at Scunthorpe 13 years ago. Since then it had been ten defeats and two draws, those coming at Millwall (2004/05) and Southampton (2008/09).
I let daft stats get in the way of common sense far too often, but that one had concerned me and I had some serious worries, certainly after watching that debacle at Leeds, and wondered what might happen should Wolves throw everything at us, as they surely would.
The trip brought us a lunch stop at a favoured watering hole close to the M6, one we've used many times on our way to the West Midlands. Now, back in 2009 in the Premier League we enjoyed an all day breakfast at a church close to the ground where we almost got caught up in a Latvian wedding.
We might have missed any wedding vows yesterday but we were definitely right in the middle of the reception that was being held at the pub. They do a nice carvery, nicely priced to, but I never thought I'd see a bride, resplendent in her long white wedding gown, queuing at the veg counter and almost spilling the gravy.
We left just as the best man was making his speech ready for the final part of the journey that saw us park up close to Molineux around 50 minutes before kick off.
Then came the difficult bit; the mountaineering. The steps up to the top tier seemed never ending and I can assure you I was not the only one breathless by the time I reached the top to be told there was a lift I could have used. It's high, I can promise you, and we were sat on the front row. I can't recall ever being quite so high above the pitch before.
The team news came through. It was that which had played most of the second half against Cardiff with both David Edgar and Paterson starting. Michael Duff was, as reported on the Friday, back in the squad but had been named on the bench.
Given our record when he's started games this season it was disappointing he wasn't in the eleven, but that was quickly put right when Kevin Long pulled out in the warm up. Duff was back.
It's happened a number of times this season, both for us and opposition teams, and just about a month ago it was the way Long got back in to the team when Duff himself pulled up just ahead of the game at Watford.
Just ahead of the team's coming onto the pitch, Wolves wheeled out many of the team that had played in the Sherpa Van Trophy Final with Steve Bull, by far, getting the biggest reception from the home fans.
Mark Kendall, who went on to play briefly for Burnley, was in goal for Wolves that day. It will be five years ago this Wednesday that he passed away at the age of 49 and he was represented yesterday by his wife Gaynor who, I am pleased to say, received a warm ovation from supporters of both clubs.
Then it was today's teams and we kicked off defending the goal right in front of us, or more accurately down below us. I suspected Wolves would come pouring forward in numbers; they did, or tried to, but there was only one real half opportunity when Lee Grant cleared badly. For a moment I thought they were going to score with ease but Grant recovered well and saved without any real concerns.
Wolves had made their plans clear. They were going to hoist balls into our box at every opportunity. We, in contrast, were looking to get the ball down and pass it, and, after that early scare, we soon let Wolves know they were going to have a very difficult game when we took an early lead.
Trippier had got forward down the right and played the ball in low for Ings who was around ten yards out, to the right of goal, and with his back to goal. Incredibly there wasn't a Wolves defender anywhere near him. Had this been on Match of the Day I'm sure Alan Hansen would have been going apoplectic.
Even so, Ings, who I thought had as good a game as I've seen him play, had much to do. He turned and fired a shot through a defender's legs into the far bottom corner giving former Swansea goalkeeper Dorus De Vries no chance.
I expected a response from Wolves but if we got one it was no more than them firing as many high balls into our box as they possibly could. You always fear one will drop for them but we defended it all really well and, in fact, when the game came close to a second goal it was at the far end.
Chris McCann played the ball in. Sam Vokes scuffed his shot but forced De Vries into a good save. Ings was onto it but De Vries made did really well to keep that out. It would surely have been game over had that gone in.
Wolves had two opportunities towards the end of the half but you have to wonder how on earth referee Darren Sheldrake, who only seemed to see fouls one way for most of the afternoon, missed the most blatant of fouls on Grant for the first of them.
Thankfully our goalkeeper recovered to save and when they did beat him soon after it was Edgar who came to the rescue. So 1-0 it was at half time. The home fans were getting restless and no surprise.
That goal had come in the 8th minute and in the 8th minute of the second half came another. It had so many similarities to the goal last week in that the ball came in from a set piece on the right (a corner this time taken by Ings), was headed back to the taker who then crossed to find Edgar.
This time it was low, and Edgar was able to turn it on towards Paterson who gleefully scored from close range before celebrating down below us.
In truth that was about it and but for a red card midway through the half I don't think Wolves would have offered any threat at all. In truth we could, and maybe should, have added to the two goals we did score.
Even down to ten men it made little difference. Edgar dropped back and we played 4-4-1 with Ings and Paterson going right and left. Wolves were held comfortably until just before the end when Grant was forced into his first real save of the afternoon.
They'd fired in one or two shots that were off target but then Grant made a good save, getting down to his right to tip a short round his right hand post. From the corner Wolves reduced the deficit as Nouha Dicko turned it in from close range.
That's when panic hits in with football fans. Suddenly we all got anxious. But I looked just to my right where the faces on the home fans told the real story. I know how they felt. I've been there often enough over the years.
They didn't threaten a second goal. We might have got a second through Ings who broke superbly. He should probably have just taken it into the corner but went for a shot that De Vries saved comfortably.
But eventually the final whistle blew. We were safe of any relegation threat. Wolves were hanging by a thread and the fans poured on demonstrating against all and sundry. It was mainly the owner Steve Morgan but they are clearly not enamoured with Saunders whose Doncaster team we relegated a year ago.
I like Molineux, always have, and I looked round and wondered why on earth this ground is likely to be staging League One football next season. I know they've been further down but that was when the club was facing the biggest crisis of its life and was only able to open one and a half sides of the ground.
If they go down, and that looks likely, I don't think it will be long before they are back.
But this is not about Wolves. This is about us. We WILL be playing Championship football next season and after the sweating of recent weeks it's a relief and is worth celebrating.
I know Wolves weren't good, but this was another accomplished away performance from Burnley. I've said it before and it's worth repeating - but I really wish we could play this well at home.
Home - that's Ipswich next week and then a close season when manager Dyche can finally start to become our manager by shaping his own team. Then it's Cork in July for our next, at this time, scheduled away game before we can look forward to another trip to Lego Land with Doncaster having won promotion yesterday.
And I hope the happy couple from the carvery have a long and enjoyable marriage. I can confirm she didn't spill any gravy on her dress.
The teams at Molineux were;
Wolves: Dorus De Vries, Matt Doherty, Roger Johnson, Kaspars Gorkss, Paul Robinson, Stephen Hunt (Liam McAlinden 69), Karl Henry, Tongo Doumbia, Stephen Ward (Bakary Sako 59), Kevin Doyle, Bjorn Sigurdarson (Nouha Dicko 59). Subs not used: Aaron McCarey, Eggert Jonsson, Danny Batth, Kevin Foley.
Yellow Cards: Nouha Dicko, Matt Doherty.
Burnley: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Danny Lafferty, David Edgar, Dean Marney, Chris McCann, Danny Ings, Martin Paterson (Junior Stanislas 82), Sam Vokes (Marvin Bartley 90). Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Luke O'Neill, Joseph Mills, Brian Stock, Ross Wallace.
Yellow Cards: Michael Duff, Dean Marney, Lee Grant.
Red Card: Michael Duff.
Referee: Darren Sheldrake (Surrey).
Attendance: 24,199 (including 1,029 Clarets).