GRACIOUS Leeds United boss Steve Evans accepted that Burnley are destined for the Premier League after grinding out a 1-0 win over his battling side at Turf Moor.

The winner came after just 59 seconds when winger Scott Arfield drove in his eighth goal of the season to extend the Clarets' unbeaten run to 18 league games and lift them four points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough and five above Brighton.

It was not a vintage performance from the hosts, who had started the day as the Championship's top scorers – and they would have dropped points had Chris Wood taken either of the clear-cut openings he had in the second half.

Yet the fact that Burnley won a game when not at their best was not on lost on Evans, who predicted there will soon be promotion celebrations around Turf Moor.

The Leeds manager said: "We've played well enough. We've dominated for long, long spells.

"If Burnley are winning games like today, then they're destined to be in the Premier League. They're full of good players and have a top manager in Sean Dyche."

Evans also absolved Wood of any blame, even though the striker's wastefulness from left-wing crosses by Mustapha Carayol and Charlie Taylor ultimately cost the visitors a share of the spoils.

"With the two Chris Wood chances, they're bread and butter to him and he would normally put them in the net," admitted Evans.

"The net is three quarters empty and you'd normally expect him to put them in – but he'll come back on Tuesday (at Birmingham) and he'll lead the line. His performance all round, other than that, was very good.

"The whole team, we've bossed it with some real quality of passing and movement. The only disappointing thing, and the mystery to all of us, is that we've lost the game."

Burnley's ability to grind out yet another result was hailed by Dyche as his Championship leaders ensured they ended the weekend top of the table.

However, having reached 80 points with five games to go, Dyche was just pleased to record another victory as they close in on an instant return to the top flight.

The Clarets boss said: "Today was a different affair – but you've got to find a way. If you want to be successful in any industry, but certainly in football and certainly in the Championship, you have to find a way to win."

Burnley have not been beaten since Boxing Day in the Championship and while the start of their 18-game unbeaten run featured more eye-catching performances and bigger margins of victory, their consistency has seen them retain top spot ahead of the chasing pack.

"You can't use the word 'luck' when you're top of the league with 80 points at this stage of the season," said Dyche.

"That's not about luck when you've gone this far down the line. It's about all the different challenges and dealing with them over a season. There's still more work to be done."