OWEN Coyle has reserved praise for experienced duo Ade Akinbiyi and Alan Mahon after both came off the bench to score vital goals for Burnley last week.

The Clarets’ form has meant that, with competition for places as fierce as ever, both have not featured as much as they would have liked this season.

But Akinbiyi came on as a substitute to grab the equaliser in the Carling Cup triumph at Chelsea, while Mahon struck the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 win at QPR.

Coyle said: “I’ve got nothing but praise for the way they’ve conducted themselves and I don’t mean how they’ve played when they’ve come on. I mean as professionals about the football club day in, day out.

“That’s what we need and each and every one of them. When you look, there are quality players within that team that for one reason or another have all been sitting on the bench - Robbie Blake, Chris Eagles, Michael Duff.

“But when they’ve come in they’ve been outstanding and a lot of them are still in the team now because they’ve kept their place. Long may it continue.”