CLARET JAY HAS LAST LAUGH

HE was mocked by the visiting fans that he was “a s**t Andy Carroll” but Jay Rodriguez had the final word with a brilliant header.

And it was a finish the aforementioned former Newcastle and Liverpool striker would have been proud of.

It certainly brought a smile from Burnley boss Vincent Kompany who, until the Carroll lookalike struck three minutes before the 70th-minute homage was paid to the Queen, appeared to be in for a frustrating afternoon.

Kompany said: “This was a real tricky game but I am happy because we go into the international break with everything we want.”

When substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson crossed into the box Rodriguez stole in ahead of his marker and glanced a well-executed header into the corner of the net.

Until then the headlines appeared reserved for one-time Burnley misfit Nahki Wells, who had cancelled out an early home goal from Manuel Benson.

Wells joined in a £5million deal but only managed 46 minutes of league action in two-and-a-half years and didn’t score, being sent out on loan. It had been a flying start by Kompany’s side and it was right-sided speedster Benson who capitalised on Bristol’s inability to close down, the Belgian advancing to the edge of the box and firing past Dan Bentley via the inside of the post.

His fourth-minute strike was his first for the club since a summer move from Royal Antwerp.

And it could have been worse for Nigel Pearson’s slow-starting side as a Josh Brownhill attempt was deflected just over the bar.

Pearson said: “They have some lively players and it wasn’t for the fainthearted. After that we had our chances but we have to be realistic.”