CRICHTON: Made an important save at 1-0 and ensured another clean sheet with a blinder in the last minute...7

WEST: Maintained his recent high standard on a far from taxing afternoon...7

SMITH: One of his best games yet as he revelled in the chance to get forward and deliver some quality balls into the box...8

MELLON: Helped Burnley gain control but not back to the form he showed earlier in the season...6

DAVIS: Barely extended at the back, he enjoyed the chance to brush up his attacking skills and was denied a gem of a goal by the woodwork...8

THOMAS: As effective as ever without having to stand out on this occasion...7

LITTLE: Too good for Colchester in the first half when most of his passing and crossing was of the highest standard...8

COOK: On a different level to his opposite numbers in midfield, I don't remember him giving the ball away...8

ARMSTRONG: Quietly efficient as usual and played a couple of telling balls from the back...7

PAYTON: Filled in the one gap on his Clarets CV with his first hat-trick and would have had five but for two top-class saves from Simon Brown...10

BRANCH: Continues to grow in stature and was a central figure in the Clarets attack...7

SUBSTITUTES:

LEE: Got into a couple of decent positions but couldn't help add to Burnley's tally...6

JOHNROSE: The game was over as a contest when he came on but did little wrong...6

MULLIN: Another useful run-out on his way back to full fitness

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.