Mamady Sidibe's fourth goal in six games earned City a first league win in 2007 in sub-zero conditions at Turf Moor.

The Mali international converted a Ricardo Fuller cross midway through the first-half as the Potters took full advantage of their game in hand to move back into the play-off pack.

Swiftly erasing memories of Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Preston, Tony Pulis' men turned in an impressive counter-attacking performance in the rearranged clash, originally scheduled on New Year's Day, and, in truth, could have won the game by a more comfortable margin.

Burnley began the game boasting a one-time Stoke strike-force of Ade Akinbiyi and Gifton Noel-Williams, and it was the former who had the best of the early chances.

With just three minutes gone, Noel-Williams sent a powerful volley straight at Steve Simonsen before rifling another effort over the bar when well positioned midway through the half.

However, it was the Potters who found the breakthrough on 25 minutes when Fuller raced to the byline and squared for Sidibe to tap into an empty net.

Fuller should have added his name to the score-sheet moments later, but home 'keeper Mike Pollitt got down well to stop the striker's low drive from just inside the area.

Burnley's response saw Andy Wilkinson hack Noel-Williams' shot off the goal-line, while an Akinbiyi header drew a smart save from Simonsen four minutes before the break.

The in-form Sidibe was at the heart of City's best attacks after the restart, with the Mali international forcing Pollitt into action with a low drive before laying-off for Darel Russell to fire narrowly over.

With a dogged defence persistently frustrating the home side's powerful attack, City continually caught Burnley on the break and could have doubled their lead when Pollitt kept out new signing Dominic Matteo's left-footed drive and Fuller skewed into the side-netting.

However, Burnley almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser in stoppage time when Simonsen failed to hold substitute Kyle Lafferty's shot before reacting brilliantly to thwart Noel-Williams and Akinbiyi from the rebound.