Town boss Joe Royle praised striker Darren Bent after his two goals won the Blues a 2-0 win at Burnley. However, Royle was equally as pleased with the contribution of his defenders who earned their second clean sheet in a week.

Royle said: "We were far from our best but we weren't ever in too much trouble. Our goalkeeper had two long-distance saves in the first half but otherwise we looked defensively sound.

"We defended properly and had other chances to score, without playing near our best. So I take that as a great plus because when we are at our best I think we're as good as anyone in the division.

"We know we can play better but two great goals deserve to win any game. The second goal was a great strike, I thought he was going to cross it for the people running in, it would probably still be going if the net hadn't stopped it. It deserved to win any game."

Despite their defeat to Plymouth Royle says leaders Wigan are still in the driving seat for the title: "There was a smile and a cheer from the dressing room when we heard the result but I don't see the big deal with Wigan losing one game.

"They've had a terrific start to the season, and because of their squad and spending power I would still make them favourites."

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill is clearly a massive fan of Darren Bent: "The difference was Bent, he's excellent. A Premiership player without a doubt. He stretches teams and he's too quick to squeeze up.

"The other thing is that he pushes full-backs, his work rate is terrific. We got undone by two fantastic goals. He's a wonderful player, it'll be our luck now that he'll go to the Premiership in the window rather than last summer."

Cotterill said his defenders simply had no answer to Bent's pace, particularly given some of his players' lack of fitness: "We can't cope with it. John McGreal and Graham Branch should not have played. It's too much, this is a game too far this week."

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls