Burnley came from behind to beat ten-man Preston 3-1 in their Lancashire derby at Turf Moor.
Eagles on the mark for Clarets
Burnley came from behind to beat ten-man Preston in their Lancashire derby at Turf Moor.
The Clarets signalled their promotion pedigree o extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.
Preston went in front on 22 minutes when Barry Nicholson found the net after a weak defensive header by Clarets skipper Steven Caldwell.
Caldwell pointed an accusing finger at goalkeeper Brian Jensen for not dealing with a cross and an angry exchange of words between the pair took place.
Yet Burnley responded in style at the other end of the pitch as Icelandic midfielder Joey Gudjonsson's brilliant 30-yard strike flew into the top corner to draw them level in the 33rd minute.
Caldwell then edged Burnley into a 64th-minute lead and after Callum Davidson's 70th-minute dismissal for deliberate handball reduced Preston to 10 men and substitute Eagles fired home a late third.
The result may not have Chelsea quaking in their boots ahead of Burnley's visit to Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup fourth round, but there is no doubt that Coyle's side have hit form after a miserable start to the season.
They should have led inside the second minute when Preston midfielder Darren Carter inexplicably attempted to play the ball back to Andy Lonergan from 25 yards.
Carter's pass turned out to be a perfect through ball for Burnley's six-goal leading scorer Martin Paterson, who raced forward to round Lonergan but wastefully ballooned the ball high into the massed ranks of visiting supporters behind the goal.
Opener
Burnley were ruthlessly punished when Preston drew first blood courtesy of Nicholson's well-taken strike.
Chris Sedgwick floated in a cross from the left flank and, after Jensen stayed rooted to his line, Caldwell was forced into making a weak header which fell straight to Nicholson 10 yards from goal.
The Scottish midfielder, a free transfer signing from Aberdeen this summer, rifled in a low right-foot volley which flew past Jensen and into the bottom corner.
Preston were then dealt a blow on the half-hour mark when left-back was Michael Hart carried off on a stretcher after he picked up an injury.
He was replaced by Davidson but immediately after the substitution was made Gudjonsson's rocket drew Burnley level.
The hosts almost forged ahead five minutes before the break when Lonergan expertly tipped over a far-post header from striker Steve Thompson.
Preston boss Alan Irvine replaced Jon Parkin with Chris Brown at half-time as the former Sunderland and Norwich striker made his first appearance of the season after a bout of sciatica and ankle injuries.
But it was Burnley who posed a greater threat and after Clarke Carlisle headed a deep free-kick across the face of goal in the 64th minute, Caldwell was on hand to fire a left-foot shot into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.
Dismissal
Preston's fortunes suffered further in the 70th minute when Davidson prevented Paterson from racing clear with a deliberate handball for which he received a straight red card.
Preston offered little in response and Burnley continued to hold the upper hand with Eagles' low right-foot shot capping a fine counter-attacking move.
