STEVE Cotterill hailed goal hero Wade Elliott after the winger's sensational return to first team action on Saturday.

Two superb strikes put Burnley ahead twice in the first half at Turf Moor against Cardiff, only for them to be pegged back before forcing a 3-3 draw.

But the quality of the goals from Elliott, who was playing for the first time in four weeks following an ankle injury, left Cotterill beaming.

The Burnley boss said: "They were two fantastic goals and you probably won't see somebody score two better goals than that all weekend.

"He had to score sooner or later because Garreth O'Connor scored a few weeks ago so I'm sure that got under Wade's skin a little bit

"The second one, that's as good as you get. I remember Van Basten scoring a goal at the far post from a bit more of an acute angle and I think Glen Hoddle scored one once after a one-two on the edge of the box. But they don't come any better than that.

"They were fantastic and I thought all of our goals today were good goals - but of course I thought all of Cardiff's were very, very poor!"

The fact that the Welshmen breached the Burnley back line three times was the big minus point for Cotterill, who is despairing at the errors that have crept into the back four this campaign.

"We could defend better than we have done, not only today but this season," said Cotterill. "We've been scoring goals but we've been shipping them , that's our problem.

"Last season we were the kings of the clean sheet but we seem to be a bit edgy at the moment.

"We're getting done by the individual error and the sooner we can eradicate that the better. We haven't conceded a bad goal as a team, there hasn't been mix-ups, just one lapse of concentration."

Frank Sinclair is the only injury doubt ahead of tomorrow night's derby at Preston North End.