Boss hails Akinbiyi effort

Steve Cotterill was pleased with Ade Akinbiyi in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill was delighted with the performance of Ade Akinbiyi in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Akinbiyi's first Coca-Cola Championship goal since returning to the club from Sheffield United in January cancelled out Clinton Morrison's 15th-minute opening goal for the visitors.

The Clarets are now without a win in 15 Championship matches and 16 games in all competitions and are six points above the drop zone.

Having accepted Akinbiyi would take time to build his match fitness when he first returned to Turf Moor, Cotterill believed the striker's performance was the most impressive display in his second spell with The Clarets.

Cotterill insisted there was more to come and continued: "That was Ade's best game and there were no lost causes, which we've learnt to expect.

"We just need him to build on that and until the soreness kicked in, it was Andy Gray's best game (since a foot injury in November).

"Hopefully that will kick-start Ade and he can go on and get some more goals."

Palace boss Peter Taylor was full of praise for Akinbiyi, who he took to Leicester for £5million in 2000.

Taylor said: "He keeps scoring against me, the sod! He's a good player and he took his goal well.

"I'd have to look at the video but it was probably a very disappointing goal for us to concede.

"He's a hard-working player; always has been and always will be."

Taylor, whose side are 11th in the Championship and 10 points off the play-offs, added: "We finished the game well. I thought we had a couple of quite good chances in the end and I'm very pleased with the way we finished."