Tom pleased to play his part in win over Rovers

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton confessed that Burnley's latest win over rivals Blackburn Rovers was his '˜favourite of the lot'.
Burnley's Thomas Heaton

Photographer Chris Vaughan/CameraSport

Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Burnley v Blackburn Rovers  - Saturday 5th March 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley 

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Photographer Chris Vaughan/CameraSport

Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Burnley v Blackburn Rovers  - Saturday 5th March 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley 

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Burnley's Thomas Heaton Photographer Chris Vaughan/CameraSport Football - The Football League Sky Bet Championship - Burnley v Blackburn Rovers - Saturday 5th March 2016 - Turf Moor - Burnley © CameraSport - 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (0) 116 277 4147 - [email protected] - www.camerasport.com

The Turf Moor skipper has won three of his four outings in the East Lancashire derby, keeping clean sheets in both this term, but he accepts the latest instalment was the most memorable.

Andre Gray scored the decisive goal from the spot just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark to send the Clarets back to the top of the Championship.

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“It was a fantastic feeling,” said Heaton. “Every derby I’ve played in for this club has been a great atmosphere and fantastic games.

“But I think today surpasses the lot in terms of the atmosphere. Walking out the tunnel was incredible and the atmosphere was great right to the end.

“Today’s my favourite of the lot. It means an awful lot to us and it means an awful lot to everyone around the town.”

The England international endured one of his busier afternoons this season in the victory as he was made to work for a 15th clean sheet of the campaign.

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Following his magnificent stop against Bolton at the Macron Stadium, flying to his upright to keep Liam Feeney’s deflected free kick out, Heaton denied Rovers duo Elliott Bennett and Hope Akpan in similarly impressive fashion.

And the 29-year-old was happy to play his part. “Generally in most games I’m relatively quiet, just marshalling people around and mopping up bits, which is important,” he said.

“So it’s nice to have an impact on the game. One thing I’ve always been taught is if you’re not involved an awful lot make sure you’re ready when the time comes, and thankfully the last couple of games I have been.

“I’m pleased with it. That’s my job and the most important part of my job, keeping the ball out of the net.

“Both took a little deflection on the way through and thankfully they’ve both landed in my hands.

“I thought we were brilliant again defensively.”