ALAN Lee sent out a message to all challengers for his position with two well-taken goals as the Blues beat Burton Albion in a friendly at the Pirelli Stadium last night.

By Derek Davis

ALAN Lee sent out a message to all challengers for his position with two well-taken goals as the Blues beat Burton Albion in a friendly at the Pirelli Stadium last night.

Matt Richards opened the scoring after 19 minutes following good work by George O'Callaghan.

Irish striker Lee struck three minutes later when he lobbed the experienced Kevin Poole after he had saved from Jon Walters, and Lee then sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot after a Danny Holmes handball.

Albion hit the woodwork twice through Jon Shaw and Keith Gilroy but Ipswich, who returned to pre-season training almost a month ago, always looked comfortable.

Gary Roberts (groin), Fabian Wilnis (thigh), Richard Naylor (toe) and Sylvain Legwinski (foot) were the only players from the 24-man party who did not play, while even Magilton got a half-hour run out.

Albion boss Nigel Clough also rose to the challenge and went on for the last 13 minutes.

Town fans will have been amused to see Burton Albion trialist Gary Croft, the first Premiership player to be tagged while he was with Ipswich, wearing the yellow shirt adorned by the kit-makers' name - TAG.

Burton Albion: Poole, Brayford (Gilroy), Croft, Holmes (Webster), Austin, James (Stride), Corbett (Goodfellow), McGrath (Hall), Shaw (Archer), Clare (Harrard) and Farrell (Clough).

Ipswich Town - first half: Supple, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Sito, Garvan, O'Callaghan, Lee, Walters and Richards.

Second half: Price, Synnott, Moore, Miller, Casement, Trotter, Magilton, Haynes, Rhodes, Clarke and Richards.

Attendance: 935.