Burton Albion defender Stephen Warnock admits that Saturday's Leeds United were better than anything he faced in the Championship last year at Wigan Athletic.

It is high praise from a former England international - who had a two-year spell at Elland Road as captain - after the Brewers were downed 5-0 by an impressive Whites side.

A double from debutant Pierre-Michel Lassoga, and goals from Kemar Roofe, Kalvin Phillips and Pablo Hernandez saw off a sorry Burton as Leeds moved up to second place in the Championship table.

And ex-Liverpool man Warnock - who played on the left of a four-man defence set up to repel a deadly Leeds frontline - reckons that Thomas Christiansen's side are up there with the best in the league.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Leeds United
Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Leeds United

The versatile defender spent one season at Wigan Athletic last term, alongside fellow Brewer Jake Buxton, and ranked Saturday's victors alongside Fulham as the best team he has faced in the league so far.

"For me, last year the standout that we (Wigan) played footballing wise was Fulham," Warnock told BBC Radio Derby post-match.

"And I think that performance today was probably better than what we played against Fulham last year.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Leeds scores to make it 5-0 for the Whites
Pierre-Michel Lasogga of Leeds scores to make it 5-0 for the Whites

"But there's plenty of games left this season. They're going to find it tough once it gets to the winter period and the games come thick and fast.

"It's how the players adapt to it, those who aren't used to that intensity in the league, but they seem to have a lot of strength in depth and they've got a big squad.

"You see what's coming off the bench and they obviously added a lot of quality.

"But like I say, they're a good team and we hold our hands up today and we move on to the next game."

Warnock was also keen - like manager Nigel Clough - to look ahead to Tuesday night's trip to Norwich City, with the Brewers still yet to pick up a point on the road this season.

Clough and Warnock are keen to look ahead to Norwich
Clough and Warnock are keen to look ahead to Norwich

"The manager is always positive in the way he wants to be and the way he wants the team to react to things," Warnock added.

"There'll be no negativity around the place, that's not his style.

"He's very much behind his team and he wants them to progress. Obviously we'll talk about the game, but we'll look at Norwich and we'll look to go there and to get a result."