If there is one thing Burnley fans will be wishing for when they take on Derby County at Turf Moor in the clash of the day on Saturday it is simply a repeat of the first 45 minutes against Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
It is not exaggerating to say it might just well be the finest half game of football I have ever seen Burnley play - and that includes Jimmy Adamson’s 70s side with Leighton James, Martin Dobson, Paul Fletcher, Keith Newton, Peter Noble, Colin Waldron and all.
Forest - no slouches and promotion rivals, let’s not forget - were not given a kick and Burnley matched ability with inventiveness and on this occasion made sure they capitalised it to the tune of being three goals ahead by half time.
We all knew Forest, stunned as they were - and you could tell how much their players were looking forward to Billy Davies’s half time team talk - would come out all guns (and elbows, in the case of Darius Henderson) blazing, but Clarets did a good enough containment job and could have had more goals of their own.
It’s a rare pleasure to see Little Billy silenced, but neutrals the football world over must have rejoiced in it happening. Full time had come and gone before he could marshal his excuses.
I think the last time Steve McLaren was at Turf Moor it was during his tenure at Nottingham Forest and it didn’t end happily for him.
He is rejuvenated now and as with Forest there will be no underestimating a quality opponent. Make no mistake, both Forest and Derby are very good Championship teams with enviable track records this term.
But at their best, Burnley have proved they can step up a gear even from that, and more of the same would surely help put some distance between them and another rival.
In Dyche we trust.