THE Clarets’ heroic defensive performance in the win at the Britannia Stadium was a credit to the manager, according to their star man Stephen Ward.

The Republic of Ireland left back was influential in the second half as the back four soaked up everything Stoke could throw at them to cling on to a second straight Premier League win.

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Ward came into his own as the game went on and finished with 10 headed clearances and 24 clearances overall as he repelled the Potters’ advances on Tom Heaton’s goal.

But Ward, who has started the last four games after replacing Ben Mee for the 3-1 defeat to Everton, said the defensive performance was down to the work done on the training ground by Sean Dyche.

“I was just trying to get myself in the right positions,” explained Ward of his numerous vital clearances.

“The manager works really hard on the back four, getting our bodies turned and in the right positions, so it’s a credit to him that he has us defending the way that we are.”

Ward revealed that the players had worked intensively in the week before the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

“We do pride ourselves on defensive performances,” he said. “We worked hard in midweek on being a tight unit and it’s great to get the result."

The win moved them off the bottom of the Premier League table, and with successive home games coming up against Aston Villa and Newcastle, the current run of good form has the potential to spark Burnley’s season into life.

While Ward has come into the starting XI to replace Mee recently, both Ashley Barnes and Michael Kightly have come in in the previous two games and put in impressive performances, and the versatile former Wolves man believes that shows there is plenty of competition for places in Dyche’s squad.

“There is and that’s what the manager wants,” Ward said of the battle to earn a place in the starting line-up.

“He wants people challenging for places because it keeps everyone on their toes.

"At the minute we’ve got players who can fill in in every position, which is vital for us.”Ward is aware that both games will present a tough challenge, but is looking forward to getting back to Turf Moor.

“Every game is tough in this league, you can never take any game for granted,” he said.

“You have to prepare for them all in the same way and we’ll do that, but it will be nice to get back in front of our home fans and if we can get another result it will be really nice.