Barnes gives Bennett a kiss as they square off in heated clash during Burnley vs Cardiff

BURNLEY'S hopes of Premier League survival may have been sealed with a kiss.

During a heated clash at Turf Moor, where Cardiff looked to drag the Clarets into a relegation scrap, Ashley Barnes puckered up in the most hilarious moment of the game.

Chris Wood had given Sean Dyche's side an early lead in Lancashire which looks likely to see Burnley's relationship with England's top tier continue.

And then moments before half-time Burnley's striker squared up to Bluebirds defender Joe Bennett with the two coming dangerously close to one of those "footie headbutts".

But Barnes, 29, surprised everybody in attendance as he planted not one but two kisses on Bennett's nose.

Cardiff's left-back had no reaction to Barnes' moment of passion.

But to the striker's shock — and what must have set a Premier League precedent — referee Mike Dean looked down upon the act and brandished his yellow card.

It was intended to rile rather than romance his opponent.

But it brought back memories of Man United defender Gary Neville smooching Paul Scholes after the Manchester derby in 2010.

Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn also provided a similar moment in 1999 when he planted his lips on Borussia Dortmund's Heiko Herrlich.

For Burnley, they took another step closer to Premier League survival as Wood added a second late on which leaves Cardiff five points from safety.