BURNLEY confidently capitalised on their game in hand last night, and manager Eddie Howe declared: “It’s all to play for.”

With four Championship games to go the Clarets closed the gap on the play-offs to two points after beating Middlesbrough 3-1 at Turf Moor.

All the goals came in the first half, with Wade Elliott and Michael Duff getting on the scoresheet after leading scorer Jay Rodriguez opened their account in the 22nd minute.

And Howe praised a team effort in getting their top six ambitions back on track.

“I thought all the lads were magnificent,” said the happy Burnley boss.

“We started with a real intensity and started on the front foot.

"The most pleasing thing was the amount of chances we created and balls we put into their box.

“To really take the game to Middlesbrough was what we wanted to do.

“It’s one thing saying it but I thought the players really delivered. I thought it was our best performance since I’ve been here.

“We have not created an abundance of chances in our last few games so to be a threat in front of goal again was really pleasing.

“I thought all the lads worked extremely hard, especially off the ball. We pressed Middlesbrough very well.

"It’s been a feature of our last two games so hopefully we can keep it going because it’s all to play for.

“Two games ago we looked out of it and now it’s swung round.

“Easter’s going to be a crucial time with two games and then we go to Leeds.

“It’s a cliché but the two games in three days is crucial.”

And Howe will be hoping to have Andre Bikey, Chris Eagles and Dean Marney available for those games against Derby, away on Saturday, and at home to Portsmouth on Easter Monday after the trip limped off in the second half last night.

“I’ll have to speak to the physio. Hopefully they’ll be okay,” said the Burnley boss.

“We don’t want to lose anyone at this stage of the season.

"All three players who came off are very important to us so hopefully it’s nothing serious.”