NEW signing Graham Alexander believes Burnley's first away win of the season underlines the club's ambitions.

The Clarets became the first side to take three points from Layer Road this term - a feat only managed by four club's in Colchester's first Championship season as Geraint Williams' men made their home ground a fortress.

Two goals from Andy Gray on the back of Alan Mahon's 16th-minute volley earned Burnley a 3-2 win, moving them up to 12th in the Coca-Cola Championship table and halting the U's unbeaten league run.

And Alexander, who ended an eight-and-a-half-year association with Preston North End by making a £200,000 move to Turf Moor before the transfer window closed last week, says he is confident he has joined a strong and determined squad.

"Steve Cotterill's obviously an ambitious manager and everything he said to me appealed to me," said the 35-year-old, who played 70 minutes in a central midfield role on his Burnley debut.

"The quality throughout the squad I think is really strong.

"They're all good players. I don't think the manager would bring them in if they weren't. They're proven at this level, and the players that were already here as well, you've got to add to that.

"If we can be hard to beat and tough and aggressive, I think we've got the qualities, as we showed (at Colchester), to score goals against teams.

"Colchester is a really tough place to come, it's very rare that people get results here. But I thought we did really well.

"Obviously we're disappointed in conceding two goals but if we hadn't have won all three points it would have been a travesty. We deserved the win today without a shadow of a doubt.

"I've joined a good club, that was a big part of my decision (to leave Preston). I wouldn't have just gone anywhere.

"If I was going, I wanted to join a good club. Burnley's a good club and I'm really looking forward to proving my worth for the team and the club and hopefully have a good season."

Alexander, who is a specialist right back but is also capable of playing in midfield, had his debut cut short after limping off with cramp with just over 20 minutes remaining.

"I'm a little bit embarrassed about that to be fair. I don't think I've ever come off in a game with cramp before," he said.

"It's been a strange week; a couple of nights with not sleeping and I haven't eaten very well to be honest during the week.

"It's just been really weird and I think it all caught up with me to be honest; playing in a different position as well, the running in midfield's a little bit different to full back. I think it was a combination of things and hopefully that's the last time it will happen. I'm sure the manager won't want it to happen again. I don't think it will.

"But I really enjoyed the 70 minutes I played.

He added: "It was a different position for me and I thought we did really well today, I thought it was a great result.

"That's the first time I've ever come here and won in my career (in the league) so it was a great result for us.

"I was just desperate to win. I'm always desperate to win but on your debut you want to put in a good impression to your team-mates, and especially your manager. Hopefully I did that.

"I wish I'd have lasted 90 minutes but hopefully that will come in time."