Source: Team_Talk
Blake ignores pundits' criticism
The Clarets weaknesses were pored over by television commentators as they went 5-0 down at West Ham last week before eventually fighting back to 5-3 at Upton Park.[LNB]But Blake said the players were immune to it as they had total belief in manager Owen Coyle's methods.[LNB]"Pundits are going to knock us. It's a lot easier for me because I'm a forward but I can imagine some of the defenders wanting to punch the TV," said the 33-year-old.[LNB]"But we are big enough players and we have to take it. It is high-pressure stuff in the Premier League with things highlighted so much.[LNB]"There are no downbeat players in our team - the gaffer would not allow that.[LNB]"You can never speak highly of these lads. We are all one unit, there are no individuals, and we all want to stay in this league."[LNB]Burnley have taken just one point - a 3-3 draw at Manchester City a month ago - in their seven away matches this season but head to Portsmouth on Saturday looking to end that dismal run.[LNB]And despite some heavy defeats on the road (5-0 at Tottenham, 4-0 at Liverpool, 3-0 at Chelsea) Blake stressed there would no change of emphasis.[LNB]"You have to trust the manager and the players," he said.[LNB]"The gaffer has got his beliefs and there is no way he wants to change them, and rightly so.[LNB]"He has assembled a good group of players who like to attack teams and entertain people.[LNB]"He shouldn't have any doubters about where we've come from and he's going to keep playing the same way.[LNB]"I don't think he appreciates teams sitting back and trying to get a point or try and keep it to a respectable 1-0 defeat.[LNB]"He goes to places fully believing his group of players can cause upsets.[LNB]"So far this season we have done that and we will continue that with the way we are playing and we will turn the corner.[LNB]"We have to take the positives with the way we battled back. We could have gone under at 5-0 down but we have come back and scored three goals and hopefully we can take that into the Portsmouth game."[LNB]Blake said everyone at the club was baffled as to why they could not win away from home having beaten the likes of Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland at Turf Moor.[LNB]"It is the same players, the same formation, the pitch is the same size so it's a bit strange. We can't put our finger on it," he added.[LNB]"It is just getting that little bit of luck when we need it.[LNB]"We are more eager than the fans to turn this around and get our first away win."[LNB]Victory over bottom side Portsmouth, who have had their fair share of off-field problems with players not being paid their wages the latest to re-surface, would take Burnley 13 points clear of their opponents.[LNB]But Blake stressed it was important to treat the match as any other.[LNB]"Obviously they've not had the rub of the green which is what you get when you're in those situations, and hopefully that will continue on Saturday," he said.[LNB]"We know it is a massive game and I'm sure Portsmouth do but it is important we don't get carried away by the emotion of the game, we have to play our own way."[LNB][LNB][LNB] Portsmouth 10/11, Draw 12/5, Burnley 16/5
