LEE Briscoe used his head to give the Clarets a deserved victory against Nottingham Forest and after the game he was left scratching it.

"I think that must be the first header I have ever scored," admitted the versatile player who popped up to glance home a superb cross from Paul Cook.

"I certainly can't remember another one. But I am not bothered how they go in, all that matters was I scored."

For five games this season Briscoe was the club's top scorer. Mind you, he was the club's only scorer in August!

And while his late goal against Brighton on the opening day of the season was no more than a meagre consolation after a shocking display, his header on Saturday secured a priceless win.

"It was a great ball in from Cooky and I went straight over to him after I scored," he said. "It just needed a little glance and I got it."

Incredibly, having waited so long to score with his head, he had an even better chance to nod home again just minutes later.

"I just think I got in there a little early for the cross from Glen," he said. "But that is why I like playing in midfield, sometimes you have got to take a gamble and I was lucky the crosses fell to me."

With Little and Dean West such a combination down the right it is no surprise that so many Burnley attacks go down that flank but Briscoe and the rejuvenated Graham Branch are now offering a good option down the left.

"No one is more pleased than me with the way Graham is playing," said Briscoe who has seen Branch make his former left back berth his own this season.

"He is right back in form, playing with confidence and we are doing well. We talk to each other a lot during games. The right side has a lot of flair but we are an option on the left."

After the drama and excitement of facing Manchester United, Briscoe was delighted to get three points against Forest and he said: "We wanted to react in the right way to Tuesday night. The league is our priority and this is an excellent win.

"I think what we need to do is eradicate the odd poor performance that we have thrown in, we have to maintain our good form week in week out. We have got some good results against the top sides and we have to keep picking up three points.

"Christmas is always a very important period and we will have to try to take as many points as we can from those games."

The fact that they got all the points on Saturday was thanks not only to Briscoe's's goal but the failure of former Burnley hero David Johnson to make it a scoring return to Turf Moor.

He may have only played eight times for the Clarets last season but his reception showed how the fans appreciated his efforts when he was on loan from Forest.

Having just failed to help Burnley into the play-offs he is now determined to get Forest there but he missed three chances to add to the 20 goals he has scored already this season.

His only sniff of goal in a first half the home side dominated was snuffed out by the speed and strength of Arthur Gnohere but as Forest came into the game after the break it was inevitable he would get chances.

"In other games I have been less lively and scored but that is life," admitted Johnson who was moved by the reception he received from the home fans.

His popularity grew as he missed a great chance after being slipped in by Riccardo Scimeca as he shot over the bar with only Marlon Beresford to beat. That brought a chorus of "You'll always be a Claret" from the home fans, a song repeated as a couple of other chances went begging. And Johnson probably realised it was not his day when Branch, who had already denied Jack Lester with a great challenge, somehow cleared a cross from his line, getting it over his bar from the tightest of positions.

"It was a great clearance by Branchy but I think it came off his shin," he smiled.

His goalkeeper certainly had plenty to smile about, despite conceding the only goal of the game. Twice he denied his Wales international colleague Gareth Taylor, the first save an absolute classic. Little produced one of his typical bursts into the box as he wriggled through a trio of challenges and stood up a perfect cross for Taylor. Clarets legend Willie Morgan reckons he is one of the best headers of the ball he has seen in recent years and a goal looked certain only for Ward to somehow turn the ball behind.

The second save that kept out Taylor came when the striker was put clear by Little who had charged down a clearance from veteran defender Des Walker. Deadly in the air, Taylor is less clinical with the ball at his feet and his low left foot shot was well smothered by the keeper.

Ward had to make another good save at his near post in the dying moments to stop Dimi Papadopoulos scoring his sixth goal as a sub after he was freed by fellow replacement Alan Moore but the points were safe.

Both sides ended the day in the same position as they started it but crucially the gap between Forest in third and Burnley in ninth is down to seven points.

Next Saturday's game against Rotherham at Turf Moor represents the half way mark of the season and Burnley are within striking distance of the top six.

After the nightmare start they had there is every reason to believe it is a position they can build on.

BURNLEY 1

Briscoe 28

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0

At Turf Moor Attendance: 13,869