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I'd rather get in front right from the start, but there's no denying this Burnley side. We keep coming back from behind, we keep bringing on substitutes who score important goals and we remain right behind that top three in the league, those who everyone said would run away with it.
Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson were the goalscorers on this occasion to make the journey home from Bristol that much sweeter, and thankfully that return journey was without the incidents and problems that made the trip down a little difficult and stressful.
Everything seemed fine until we hit the M6 at Knutsford only to learn that the road ahead had been closed. I wasn't expecting to be driving past Molineux but that's exactly what happened as our trip detoured through Wolverhampton and down onto the M5.
All systems go? Not quite, there were long delays ahead and the impromptu stop to study the maps helped us avoid yet another accident. The next detour took us through Gloucester on the A38, and finally, yes finally Ashton Gate was reached.
No time for our traditional pub lunch stop and so it was a quick bite outside the ground and then into the backless seats in the Wedlock Stand where over 700 Burnley fans had gathered. It's an old covered terrace with the crappy seats bolted on, but there's some noise in there.
The home fans occupy part of it, they call themselves the Cider Army, and they don't half create some atmosphere only disturbed by the unnecessary banging of a totally pointless drum. It's not anywhere you'll get e rendition of the Wurzels' back catalogue, but here you do with the classics such as, "I am a cider drinker' and 'Drink up Thy Zider'. Ooh arrh, ooh arrh ay.
On the pitch there was a blow with the news that Wade Elliott had picked up a late injury and would miss out, but that solved the problem as to how we could get Graham Alexander back into the midfield. Michael Duff, back from injury himself, came in at right back in Elliott's absence and that was the only change in personnel as the Clarets took to the pitch.
Last time out away from home was at Sheffield United and we got about them right from the start. Unfortunately we couldn't replicate that here and for long periods of the first half we struggled to get a foothold in the game.
City, with only two home wins all season, were themselves hesitant at times, but they were certainly the more progressive of the two sides and did cause us some problems mainly through former Barnsley and Wolves winger Michael McIndoe.
We had our moments down the far end in front of the Atyeo Stand, with Robbie Blake, Chris Eagles and Martin Paterson all having shots at goal, but the best chance of the half fell to City defender Jamie McCombe who got his header horribly wrong when he really should have put the home side in front.
All credit to the Clarets though. We weren't at our best but we worked our socks off to keep in the game and that meant we went in level at the interval when possibly the home side were deserving of the lead.
It had all gone rather quietly and in all honesty there was little in that first half to get excited about, and even Gary Johnson appeared to have behaved himself in the home technical area.
If the first half was something of a disappointment then the second half most certainly wasn't. They brought on Soccer AM's Lee Trundle from the bench but he wasn't involved in the penalty that led to them taking the lead.
Stern John, on loan from cash strapped Southampton, was brought down in the box by Clarke Carlisle and after a signal from his assistant referee Russell Booth pointed to the spot. It was a penalty in all fairness, but such was Booth's performance that you can rest assured that an identical incident at the other end would have not seen him giving any such award.
Johnson had said striker Nicky Maynard would come good and would start scoring goals. I'm not sure he meant penalties, but the former Crewe man stepped up and gave Brian Jensen no chance as he hit it into the left hand corner.
This one looked as though it was going to be a tough game to get anything from now but Owen Coyle's reaction to the goal was to bring on Steven Thompson for Joey Gudjonsson as he opted for a change of formation.
Thompson's first involvement was down the right wing when a ball to Eagles was handled by a home defender. Eagles took the free kick and found Clarke Carlisle at the far post. His header back was back was headed home from close range by Paterson and the Clarets were level.
It came out of the blue, but there was only going to be one winner now although the aforementioned Trundle did hit a shot over the bar. However, much more of the play was directed towards the City goal where goalkeeper Adriano Basso became the centre of attention.
He saved well from Eagles but shortly afterwards he shockingly tried to get Paterson sent off. I've never seen anything quite like it and I sincerely hope the FA take a serious look at what went on.
He'd gathered the ball when Paterson went past him. Now I'm not suggesting you could have got an X43 bus between them but there was certainly more than daylight. Quite simply Paterson didn't go close enough to make any contact, and in any case made no attempt to make contact. Scandalously this excuse for a footballer went down clutching his face.
It was a total disgrace. Referee Booth spotted nothing (no surprise there) whilst his assistant did no more than shake his head. Whether that meant he'd seen nothing or he had seen there was no contact I've no idea, but Basso got away with it. It really does leave a sour taste.
I said then that there would be justice if Basso made a big error that led to a Burnley winner, and he almost did. He chased the ball out to his own right back position and then found Alexander with his clearance. Grezza's effort from some forty yards was on target but he got back just in time to save.
But he could do nothing thirteen minutes from time when we got the winner. Again Eagles was involved, feeding Paterson down the left. Pato got into the box, took on two defenders on the outside before crossing low with his right foot. There was Thommo at the near post to hit home and send half the Wedlock stand into raptures.
Incredible isn't it? Thommo's came on as a sub to score and that's the twelfth time a substitute has found the net this season.
There was no real danger of us relinquishing this lead although the Soccer AM star did have a late shot tipped over by Jensen. But if anything it was us who looked the most likely to score again.
Eventually Booth blew his final whistle and the celebrating started as the players came over to join in. There were some real genuine smiles on our faces last night.
I'd three candidates for man of the match. There was the skipper Steven Caldwell at the back, he was in inspired form again at the back, there was Martin Paterson who leaves me exhausted just watching. But in the end it could have only been Chris Eagles. He worked his socks off for us in that first half but blossomed after the break and was by some distance the game's most influential and impressive player.
It's looking good isn't it? But let's not forget, we've achieved nothing yet other than give ourselves one hell of a chance. Only twice since the change to three points for a win in 1980 have we had more points from 24 games than we do now. One was in the Fourth Division promotion season of 1991/92 and the other occasion was the 2001/02 season, and we only need to look at that to know what can happen.
But for now let's enjoy it. Let's keep those smiles on our faces whilst tucking into the turkey. It really is fun to see Burnley win away.
Merry Christmas.
The teams were;
Bristol City: Adriano Basso, Bradley Orr (Scott Murray 81), Andy Webster, Jamie McCombe, Liam Fontaine, Gavin Williams (Lee Trundle 45), Lee Johnson (David Noble 85), Marvin Elliott, Michael McIndoe, Stern John, Nicky Maynard. Subs not used: Stephen Henderson, John Akinde.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Graham Alexander, Robbie Blake (Alan Mahon 72), Joey Gudjonsson (Steven Thompson 55), Chris McCann, Chris Eagles (Alex MacDonald 90), Martin Paterson. Subs not used: Diego Penny, Ade Akinbiyi.
Referee: Russell Booth (Nottingham).
Attendance: 16,108 (including 730 Clarets).