Howe delighted with Clarets win

Eddie Howe: His Burnley side have won seven out of nine games after victory at Middlesbrough

Eddie Howe was delighted with Burnley as they produced a comfortable 2-0 win at Middlesbrough which moved them to within touching distance of the Championship play-off places.

Clarets top scorer Jay Rodriguez gave the visiting Clarets an early lead, converting a well-worked set-piece, before full-back Kieran Trippier got the better of rookie goalkeeper Connor Ripley from distance just before the half hour mark to wrap up the points at the Riverside Stadium before the break.

Burnley were able to survive a late Boro rally with relative ease and Howe felt that his side were much the better side.

Superb

"We played very well," he said.

"We counter-attacked superbly in the first half and at times we cut them open. We could have had more goals if truth be told.

"But I am just as pleased with the second half because they came at us a bit more and when we were under a bit of pressure we worked very well to close the game out.

"We've won seven out of nine now. There's no reason if this squad can keep it up that we can't compete with the very best in this league."

Meanwhile, Tony Mowbray admitted he was 'frustrated' after watching his side suffer back-to-back league defeats for the first time in 11 months.

Despite giving Lukas Jutkiewicz a debut, he admitted they need a Plan B up front.

The striker signed an emergency loan deal in order to play against Burnley while Boro finalise a permanent move from Coventry.

Extra dimension

"It was frustrating not to tie it up properly in time for him to play," said Mowbray.

"Everything is done and everything is agreed but we missed the deadline to register.

"So we asked the Football League about a loan move and they gave us the go-ahead.

"We needed him because on Friday we only had one fit striker. Scott McDonald has been ill but he pulled a shirt on today and played or there is every chance Lukas might have started today even though he hasn't trained with the team.

"Lukas gives an extra dimension up front. He is big and physical and strong and has qualities we didn't have in the squad and that means we can utilise a different approach if we need it.

"And we do at times. We know that. We huffed and puffed at times and we couldn't score a goal.

"That has been an issue for us for a while now but usually we have managed to nick one and win 1-0. We couldn't do that today and it was very frustrating. We are all disappointed."