Eddie Howe delighted with first win

CLARETS boss Eddie Howe was delighted to pick up his first win at only the second attempt.

And to make a triumphant return to former club Portsmouth made it even sweeter.

Howe has made a positive start to the job, picking up four points from his first two games, following up a goal-less draw at Scunthorpe on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Fratton Park on Tuesday.

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He was thrilled to get off the mark: “The earlier the better.

“I think it’s important you get off to a good start. Four points from two tough away games, we’re pleased with that.

“When we came in we knew we had three tough away fixtures in the league, so to draw one and win one in the first two is pleasing.

“It’s good for the club and good for the fans because they travelled a long way.

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“It was fantastic support so I’m really pleased for them and I’m really pleased for the players because they put a lot of effort in and they deserved it.

“We created some good chances in the first half.

“In the second half it was a little bit more disciplined. Portsmouth came back at us but we defended for our lives and put our bodies on the line.”

And he hailed a collective team effort as Burnley collected only a second away win of the season: “I’m delighted with the players, I thought they were magnificent.

“In the first half we controlled the game and we were excellent and in the second half we really dug in and protected the lead when we needed to.

“There was fantastic commitment and desire.

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“All the hallmarks that you need to win away from home we showed.

“Our attitude was spot-on. I can’t fault any of the lads.

“I thought they ran themselves into the ground.

“They’re going to need a couple of easy days because they really did put a good shift in.”

Howe was Harry Redknapp’s first signing at Portsmouth, but went on to only play twice after suffering a knee injury on his debut, and he said: “It’s amazing how these things are coming up, my second game and coming back here.

“I had a terrible time here, not through any fault of the club, but through injury, it was a really, really dark time for me personally.

“To come back here as a manager of an opposing team is never anything I thought I’d do.

“To win as well just rounds off a great day for us.”