Clarets captain Ian Cox has spoken of his pleasure and his pride at being chosen to wear the captain's armband in the continued absence of injured Steve Davis.

Cox was leading Burnley out for the fifth successive game at Millmoor today and he admitted: "It has been a real pleasure.

"It is beyond my wildest dreams to have the opportunity to captain a club of the stature of Burnley.

"I feel it is big responsibility put on me and hopefully I can do a good job and not let the manager down."

He has certainly led by example since he was handed the job ahead of the match against one of his former clubs Crystal Palace on the first day of the month.

Paul Cook had been leading the side in the absence of Davis but when he was allowed to go on loan to Wigan Athletic, Ternent had no hesitation in naming Cox as his captain. And playing alongside French star Arthur Gnohere he has produced a string of fine displays that have helped fire the Clarets to the top of the table.

The biggest compliment that can be paid to the 30-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international is that the towering presence of club captain Davis has not been missed.

Cox himself missed six games at the start of the season through injury and he was understandably a little ring rusty when he returned to the side in the 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns at the end of September.

That was during the only poor run of results for Burnley who hit the 50 point mark before Christmas courtesy of the point gained against Millwall on Saturday. Last season, when they finished one place and just two points outside the play-off places, they had not reached that mark until the first week in March.

But there is no room for complacency and with Ternent in charge no chance that anyone will rest on their laurels throughout the Christmas period.

"All we are trying to do is keep getting as many points as we can, just concentrating on the next match we have to play," he explained before this afternoon's clash at Millmoor.

That is why the name of Manchester City, the Clarets' opponents on Saturday, has not even been mentioned.

The players will only focus on that match from tomorrow, a mouth watering north west derby to be played in front of a full house.

The fact that City's match at Crewe was iced off means that Burnley are certain to go into the match on top of the table, no matter what this afternoon's results were.

Kevin Keegan's men, who have started to find a greater level of consistency welcomed another promotion chasing side to Maine Road as they took on West Brom.