I'm not interested in sending out statements – I just want to win games

LEE CLARK believes no side is going to dominate this season's League One promotion race.

The Town manager was speaking after watching his side smash the third tier's last remaining unbeaten record as Colchester United were beaten 3-0.

Huddersfield are back in the play-off places, five points adrift of leaders Brighton, who were held at home by Bournemouth.

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With the two sides immediately below sixth-placed Town in the table – Oldham and MK Dons – level on 17 points with Clark's men and a further four clubs being just a point behind, it illustrates the close nature of the division.

Such a concertina effect near the top is in stark contrast to last season when after 11 games the gap between then leaders Leeds United and sixth-placed Swindon stood at nine points.

Town, who coincidentally had also travelled to Colchester in their 11th game of 2009-10, were a further two points behind in ninth.

Clark said: "This season, there is not a Norwich. There is no-one running away with it. We are five points behind the leaders. That is not a big gap.

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"At this stage (last season), it was a bigger gap between first and sixth – that is for sure."

Asked if the manner of Town's display at Colchester had sent out a clear message of intent, Clark added: "I am not interested in sending out statements, I just want my team to win football matches.

"I don't want to have to tell people what we are going to do. I just have a group of players who I love working with.

"As a group, they want to make the owner, the directors and the supporters proud."

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Town's win followed Tuesday's 3-2 win over Peterborough United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, a victory that earned them a trip to Rotherham United in Saturday's draw.

Clark believes that win over Posh, which had come in the wake of three back-to-back defeats in the league, provided the foundation for the impressive display against Colchester. He said: "In terms of the performance and result, this is up there with Notts County (when Town won 3-0 on the opening day).

"To score three goals without anything in reply is always pleasing but the work ethic, particularly when we went down to 10 men, was terrific.

"People will see we lost three games before Tuesday but I know that in those games (against Swindon, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers) we were unfortunate."

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The dismissal of Lee Croft eight minutes from time was the only blot on an otherwise fine afternoon. Referee Pat Miller seemed to get the decision right with the second yellow card being for a mis-timed sliding tackle that saw Tom Williams scythed to the floor.

The Bedfordshire official had turned down a 16th-minute penalty when Ashley Vincent blocked Lee Novak's goalbound shot with his hand on the line.

At the time, the score was goalless and Clark said: "There was a penalty decision that we deserved. At least with us having won, this does not sound like sour grapes. But if he gives that penalty, their lad would have had to go off as well."