Davis double just right

But the former Arsenal legend and chat-show host found himself upstaged by the predatory instincts of new team-mate Steve Davis at Layer Road.

As Wrightmania hit the South East, it was Davis who grabbed the limelight, slamming home goals number 49 and 50 of a prolific career.

And with Wigan and Preston both slipping up above Burnley in the Second Division table, the roving centre-back could hardly have chosen a better moment to treble his tally for the season as the Clarets turned up the heat on the leaders with their second away victory on the bounce.

By his own admission, Davis has found goals hard to come by this term.

But as Colchester and all their fans became preoccupied by the Ian Wright bandwagon, the deadly defender assumed the role of silent assassin to sink the U's with a typically clinical brace,

"We need goals from our back players and Steve came up trumps again for us," purred manager Stan Ternent.

"We played particularly well in the first half and he scored two smashing goals.

"But then he's good at that."

Modest as ever, Davis was more relieved than anything by his double salvo.

"I've been saying for a while I've been due a goal so it was nice to get on the end of a couple of crosses."

As for Wright, he may still be searching for his first goal in a Burnley shirt, but he again looked menacing after a promising debut against Wigan last week.

In the first half, in particular, there were times when he was a real handful.

But, having said that, he did fail to the hit the target from one outstanding opportunity and, right at the death, he should have made more of another glorious chance after momentarily escaping the clutches of the Colchester defence.

However, once he has adapted to life in the Second Division, the goals will come because, despite his age, he still looks sharp.

And, perhaps more importantly, he looks up for it.

Yet, whether he scores or not, his mere presence on the pitch will create openings for others, as Davis will testify.

Yet Davis's goals apart, Burnley owed this victory more to perspiration than inspiration.

The Clarets showed a few flashes of genuine quality during an action-packed first half in which they were full value for their 2-1 lead.

But, after the break, they took their foot off the gas and could have been punished as the U's desperately mounted a late comeback.

In an explosive opening, the Clarets survived a scare after just two minutes when Karl Duguid squared for Jamie Moralee who was in acres of space, but he shot straight at Paul Crichton.

Burnley slowly found their feet, though, and Wright missed a glorious chance to put them in front when he pounced on a Graham Branch cross but his effort drifted tamely wide of the far post.

The visiting fans didn't have long to wait for something to celebrate, however, as the Clarets carved out a brilliant opener on 17 minutes.

Paul Cook picked up a loose ball out on the left after his corner was only half cleared and swopped passes with Mitchell Thomas before swinging over a pinpoint centre for Davis to steam in and convert in clinical style at the near post.

But the lead only lasted two minutes before United were gifted the softest of equalisers.

Branch played the ball back to Crichton but the keeper's attempted clearance struck Steve McGavin and the veteran striker gleefully gobbled up the chance by stroking home his 13th goal of the season.

Things could have got worse for the visitors when McGavin then turned provider with a wonder pass which split the Burnley defence but David Gregory fired into the side-netting.

The Clarets regained their composure, however, with Wright at the hub of most of their best work and the ex-England striker went close with a hat-trick of opportunities in quick succession.

But it was Davis who again finally made one count.

Glen Little - who was forced to don the right boot of substitute Ronnie Jepson while his own was being re-laced - swung over a right-footed corner on 37 minutes and Davis rose majestically at the far post to bury a header past keeper Simon Brown.

The second half was largely a non-event as far as goal-mouth action was concerned.

Wright should have added a third when he raced onto a Little through ball, but instead of taking it on, he attempted an audacious chip which sailed into the arms of Brown.

And Little nearly capped an inventive performance with a brilliant solo goal but his shot flew wide of the post after a typically twisting run.

But with time running out, United nearly stole a precious point when McGavin released substitute Tony Lock but Lenny Johnrose saved the day with a timely block to ensure the Clarets took another major step towards their goal of promotion.

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