Source: FOOTYMAD
This is the time when we have to step up to the mark
Burnley face Scunthorpe at home for the second of our holiday games and there have been words from both camps ahead of the game. Captain Cliff Byrne and assistant manager Kevin Pressman have been talking on behalf of the visitors as they look to get back into action after a string of postponements.Byrne said: "Match day is the highlight of our working week and we've got a busy period coming up now. However, we need to pick up some points in our quest to finish as high in the division as possible."It's all still in our hands and we know we're more than capable of getting some decent results and pulling away. Who knows? The break from action might have done us some good and refreshed us as well as the fans, who I'm sure will be desperate to see their team in action again."Another positive is the fact that we'll have one or two players available who might have missed out through injury and illness had we played the last three games."Pressman, frustrated at the postponements, added: "Our first priority is to get games on. If we do that then we are confident we can turn our form round and start afresh and make sure we start 2011 in a positive manner."For Brian Laws it is a game against the club he managed from 1997 to 2006 and his first game against them as Burnley manager. He saw his team finally record their first away win of the season two days ago and now wants that to be the start of a good run of results."We have been stressing for a long time that we have to go on a run of wins, and now is the time," he said. "If you win one, then draw or lose one, then you are making no impact at the top end. If we want to make a claim and get where we think we should be, then this is the time when we have to step up to the mark and build from this foundation."We have another three games over the Christmas and New Year period that we think we can go and win. First up we have two home games, so it would be a great shame to waste it. I feel this a great opportunity coming along at an important time of the season."Historically, Burnley have been poor at Christmas, so we have to prepare differently, look at things carefully and march on."Laws continued: "We changed a few things around at Barnsley but you have to sometimes. Four games in nine days are a big ask, because you are going to get knocks and fatigue, so you have to use your squad wisely."Martin [Paterson] and Danny [Fox] have worked so hard and done a lot of training, but we have to make sure we choose the right moment to integrate them again. It was the same with Chris [Eagles], and it was touch and go whether I started him, because he hasn't played for a month."We have to use this squad wisely and Scunthorpe is the next step, so our minds have focused quickly on that. The lads were back in training on Monday morning and we can't wait for this next game."
