Jansen slips the grip of Ian Cox

BURNLEY defender Ian Cox was given the job of trying to keep a tight reign on Rovers' in-form hot shot Matt Jansen.

In the first half, Cox managed to do it reasonably well. There were a few moments where the striker escaped Cox's attentions but the 30-year-old defender wasn't punished for them before the break.

Jansen made a couple of good runs down the right and was dangerous in the box. The 23-year-old got himself free from Cox in the area in the seventh minute but David Dunn's cross into a melee of bodies was deflected onto the crossbar before Jansen could connect. He also had an effort from the edge of the box cleared by Paul Cook.

But the Rovers forward didn't have it all his own way early in the game. Cox, many of the Clarets fans Player of the Season so far, managed to get his head to numerous high balls floated over from midfield although the nippy Jansen was quick to pounce on any scraps.

Jansen wasn't really involved in the two first half goals as Cox managed to keep him relatively quiet but the second half was a different story as Rovers stepped up a gear and Jasen began to find more space and time.

The striker quickly began to make more of an impact and Cox, with the rest of the Burnley back line, became increasingly exposed by the Rovers' attacks.

Cox lost Jansen in the opening minutes after the break and it was up to Steve Davis to stop the Rovers dangerman on the edge of the area -- while home appeals for a penalty were turned down.

But, within ten minutes of the restart, Jansen had shrugged off Cox and slotted home his 17th --then later 18th -- goals of the season.

Bent drew Cox to the left and got the better of him, leaving Jansen free in the area 10 yards from goal. He had no problem firing past Nik Michopoulos.

Minutes later, Jansen once more lost his man in midfield as the Burnley backline tired. He raced in but Alan Mahon couldn't finish on the edge of the area.

Cox did enough to put Bent off in another goalscoring opportunity but he was nowhere on 70 minutes when Jansen broke away ten yards into the Burnley half.

Cox was a yard behind him and it was in the net before the defender, who turned 30 last week, got anywhere near.

By this time, Jansen was running Cox ragged and the Burnley man had a lucky escape eight minutes from time when he hacked down the striker in the area but the referee waved play-on.