Robbie Blake is hopeful Burnley's surprise victory over Manchester United will silence the club's doubters.
Burnley match-winner revelling in the aftermath of United win
Robbie Blake is hopeful Burnley's surprise victory over Manchester United will silence those who have already written off the Clarets' survival chances.
The veteran wide man rolled back the years with a vintage display at Turf Moor as his searing strike handed Burnley their first-ever Premier League victory.
After losing to Stoke City in their top-flight opener the sceptics were out in force as Burnley were tipped for an immediate Championship return.
Yet Blake felt such comments did not take into account Burnley's performance at the Britannia Stadium, or their hunger to succeed on their return to the big time after a 33-year absence.
"It is nice to shut a few people up," he said.
"Certain people have written us off so quickly.
"We were by far the better team at Stoke on Saturday but let ourselves down with a couple of defensive errors.
"Yet we got slated. Hopefully we have surprised a few people with this result and maybe there will be more to come."
Stunning strike
The 33-year-old was in exactly the right place to latch onto Patrice Evra's clearing header and let fly with a right-footed volley that flashed in at the near post before Ben Foster had a chance to move.
"It is a natural thing," said Blake.
"You just have to keep your eye on the ball until the last minute and release it.
"It either flies into Row Z or ends up in the back of the net. Luckily, it went in."
As someone who has experienced the intensity of Premier League combat at both Bradford and Birmingham during his career, Blake knows how hard it will be for Burnley to retain their consistency throughout an arduous campaign.
But, after working so hard to achieve their status, he is desperate not to relinquish it at the first time of asking.
"It doesn't get much better than that," he said.
"When you consider what last season was like and then we get Manchester
United in the first game this time around.
"It was fantastic and something we will savour for a long time. But more than that, is nice to show people that we are willing to work and fight to stay in this division."
