Zian Flemming had to watch from the stands in August but certainly made his mark on the East Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.

The 26-year-old had been a Burnley player for less than 24 hours when the points were shared at Turf Moor earlier this season.

Flemming was delighted to get the winner this time around and admitted it was much more enjoyable being in the thick of the action.

“Winning a game like this is a great feeling,” he beamed after the final whistle.

“I was there at Turf Moor. I signed probably 12 hours before that so my first experience as a Burnley player, even though I wasn’t on the pitch, was the East Lancashire derby.

“That was a nice introduction to the club and seeing what it meant. Unfortunately, we didn’t win that game but being out there different. I enjoyed that a little bit more!”

There has been plenty of debate in recent months over Flemming’s best position, having mostly been used in the number 10 role before heading to East Lancashire.

He has been selected to lead the line on a number of occasions this season and that was the case once again at Ewood Park.

Flemming provided a finish any striker would be proud of as he steered Bashir Humphreys’ cross past Aynsley Pears, although he felt that the run was more akin to his previous role.

“I think it was more the run of a number 10, arriving late,” he explained. “The past four or five years I have mainly played as a number 10 behind a striker.

“Now, I am playing a bit more as a striker. I don’t mind it and just see what the gaffer needs really.”

The Clarets showed their inner steel to keep yet another clean sheet on the road, and Flemming insisted it was a real team effort.

“It is a great foundation and platform for the whole team really,” he stated. “Obviously, as a forward I can get a goal but it could also be a midfielder or defender. It is a general confidence in the whole team for keeping clean sheets.

“The backline are doing outstanding work. Normally the goalkeepers get all the credit for clean sheets, Traff and the defenders have been outstanding.

“But if you see the work that the midfielders and even the attackers are doing, it is a team effort and so are the goals.

“I scored but Bashir gets the assist. The feeling in the team is that we are really in it together.”