ASHLEY Barnes hasn’t found the back of the net too many times for Burnley – his current tally for the Clarets stands at a modest three in fact.

But whilst the 25 year-old might not be the most prolific striker ever to grace Turf Moor, each goal he has scored for the club has carried huge significance.

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His first came in a 0-1 win at Barnsley last season, shortly after Danny Ings seemed to have dried up, Sam Vokes suffered his knee injury and supporters were growing fretful about whether we would have enough to see us over the finish line.

His second came a couple of weeks later against Wigan at Turf Moor. Not only did it start the promotion party, it also won just about every Supporters Club award going for Goal of the Season.

And on Saturday, as he soared above Ahmed Elmohamady and thundered his header into the back of Steve Harper’s net, Barnes gave Clarets everywhere what they’d been crying out for since August 18th.

The most obvious and tangible outcome of the win is the difference it has made to the table.

At 3.00 p.m. on Saturday, overcoming a five-point deficit to climb out of the bottom three looked like the biggest ask since Lazarus made his comeback. A couple of hours and three points later, and although still up against it Burnley had got themselves to within one win of seventeenth place.

The win brings other benefits, chief amongst which is the psychological lift it will give to the players. Overcoming a side who spent £25M this summer and were six places and seven points above them before kick-off, will work wonders for self-belief.

Equally important is the effect that the three points will have on Sean Dyche. It’s been impossible not to admire the way the manager has comported himself during what has been a testing start to the season. Through all the defeats and disappointments Dyche has never ducked a pre or post-match press call, presenting himself as a paragon of positivity throughout. It must have made a pleasant change for him to sit down in front of “Match of the Day” on Saturday night and not see his team either slated or condescended to by the assembled pundits.

The only downside is that having broken their duck, the Clarets must now wait a fortnight before trying to build on their success at Stoke. Still, at least it gives us all that bit longer to enjoy what the manager alluded to as “that nice inner, warm glow.”