Source: Team_Talk
Coyle looks to emulate Stoke success
The Clarets get their long-awaited top-flight return under way on Saturday with a trip to the Britannia Stadium, where Tony Pulis worked miracles last year in guiding an unfancied Stoke team to 12th place in the table.
Like Stoke and Hull, who retained their Premier League status on the final day of last season, newly-promoted Burnley will be looking to defy the odds and survive among the elite.
But while Coyle was quick to acknowledge the achievements of Pulis and Hull boss Phil Brown, he was keen to emphasise the unique nature of Burnley's situation as they return to football's top table for the first time in 33 years.
"All credit to Stoke and Hull, but Burnley themselves are a completely different entity to what those sides were (this time last year)," Coyle said.
"We came up last year with an attendance of 13,000, with a budget in the bottom half of the Championship.
"This year alone our budget will be the lowest in the Premier League by a country mile.
"We are a different entity entirely, but I'd certainly settle for the same end result as both Hull and Stoke achieved."
The scale of that task is underlined by the fact that Burnley is the smallest town ever to have a club in the Premier League.
And the fixtures list has handed Coyle's new boys a baptism of fire, with his team scheduled to play four of last season's top five straight after the match at Stoke.
Trips to Stamford Bridge and Anfield loom on the horizon, but the Clarets will not be viewing Saturday's six-pointer at the Britannia as an easy start, with Coyle insisting his side would adopt the same attitude going into every game.
"We're under no illusions about how difficult a start it is having Stoke," Coyle said.
"Last year they had a fortress at their stadium, a tremendous home record and I think Tony's put a great side together there.
"He's done a fantastic job and it will be a tough game but its one we're looking forward to. We'll go in there being positive, look to get the ball down and try and play and hopefully - as
everyone else will try to do - make a good start in the Premier League.
"I would like to think we can win every game we play in - that's the nature of football.
"I think Stoke will be delighted that they are at home for their first game against the side that has come up from the play-offs.
"Nobody enjoyed going to Stoke last year and they will be looking for that again. We just need to concentrate on ourselves and make sure come Saturday we are at our very best."
Burnley have suffered a series of defeats in their recent friendly fixtures but Coyle believes preparations for the season have been good.
"Every game you enter you want to win, but the biggest thing about pre-season is making sure the players' condition is good for the start of the season and they are ready to go," Coyle said.
"That's what we've tried to do, we've really focused on that and we've trained extensively, so I'm sure on Saturday that will show."
Defender Michael Duff is still nursing an injury and Coyle will be anxious to see how striker Martin Paterson gets through international duty with Northern Ireland, but whoever is available for Saturday, the manager expects competition for places to be fierce within the squad.
He said: "For Burnley Football Club to be operating at a Premier League level, the players should be excited and busting the doors down to try and claim that first-team jersey, to make sure they're in that team and come Saturday, delivering on it.
"We're all thrilled to be a part of it - what we have to do is make sure we do ourselves justice."
