Source: Team_Talk
Laws: We can't rely on home form
The Clarets go into Saturday's clash with Portsmouth at Turf Moor lying 19th in the Premier League, with last weekend's 5-2 defeat at Aston Villa meaning they have won only once in the top flight since October.[LNB]A promising start to the season has developed into a relegation dog-fight, but Burnley remain in touch with the teams immediately above them and their run-in gives plenty of grounds for optimism.[LNB]The visit of rock-bottom Pompey - who on Friday officially went into administration - is the first of seven home games the Clarets have in their final 12 fixtures.[LNB]Although they have collected just a solitary point on their travels this season, Burnley have only been beaten twice at their own ground and extending that run of form would appear to be their best hope for survival.[LNB]But while Laws admits the matches at Turf Moor will be vital, the manager has also stressed that his team must add some away points to their tally to keep themselves up - and is confident they will.[LNB]"We have got to try and pick up a couple of points here and there (away)," Laws said.[LNB]"We have played Villa, so move that game away. It's another one we don't have to worry about away from home and we have five left.[LNB]"More importantly, we have got seven at home and they are all winnable. If we won them all we would stay up.[LNB]"But that is not going to be true so what we are going to do is make sure that between now and the end of the season we pick up a few points away from home - and we will. I'm very confident of that."[LNB]Having shown encouraging moments in attack before ultimately capitulating, Burnley's performance at Villa was typical of their displays on the road this season.[LNB]Once again their cavalier approach left them vulnerable at the back and Laws admits he would be happy for his team to tone down their attacking intent if it guaranteed them results away from home.[LNB]"I'd love an ugly 90 minutes and you go and win it," Laws said.[LNB]"I don't want to have accolades after a game and get pats on the back saying 'you played well today' if we have lost.[LNB]"I'd rather them (the opposition) say 'we should have hammered you today, but you've taken three points off us'. I'd love to hear that, I'd have a smile on my face."[LNB]Burnley had looked set to put their travel sickness behind them at Villa Park when Steven Fletcher gave them an early lead but after Ashley Young's equaliser on the half-hour, the hosts then slammed four goals past Clarets keeper Brian Jensen in a little over 10 minutes.[LNB]It was a tough pill to swallow, but Laws insists his players are still as motivated as ever and determined to keep learning from the experiences of their maiden Premier League campaign.[LNB]"Why should I have to motivate or lift them when they are in the Premier League?" Laws said.[LNB]"They have been working all their careers to be in the position where they are and the last thing that I would expect them to be is down.[LNB]"I think the more important thing is just to regroup and re-organise ourselves.[LNB]"Yes, we are disappointed - there were elements within the game that were excellent - but there was just a 10-minute madness which we have to try and eradicate."[LNB][LNB] Burnley 11/10, Draw 12/5, Portsmouth 12/5
