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"For four games we were satisfied with what we saw and it was a pity what happened at Crystal Palace. Now we have to start a new run with Burnley, followed by Nottingham Forest, Plymouth and Reading. For me it is very important to be unbeaten for the rest of this month because then we will have done a good job, and we can look forward to having a relaxed Christmas."
Looking forward to his first trip to Turf Moor, Poortvliet added: "Tomorrow is a lovely game because a team that has beaten Arsenal and Chelsea in the Carling Cup and are fourth in the table are a good team.
"We did it before when we went to Reading and we believe in ourselves we can do it again. We need to do well tomorrow because, including the players, we were all disappointed on Monday night because we could have done more.
"Burnley started poorly but they had a big roll of winning games. They have a strong, physical squad who are good at football and our hope is they underestimate us a little bit. The boys have to be ready for the match and the Reading game was the same. We told the boys they can go over the line and do the job because they are capable of beating anyone."
Meanwhile Owen Coyle is looking for the Clarets to get back to winning ways at home after the draw against Cardiff in midweek. "The home form is terrific because the players have been playing so well," he said today. "It will be nice to have a positive outcome at the end of the year and go into January in a healthy position.
"Since the poor start we have averaged just short of two points per game which is incredible. We'll look to continue the form we're in and try and get back to the level of performance we are capable of like against Arsenal and Sheffield United.
"When you perform like that I feel you will get results to go with it. We won't get carried away but expectations do rise when you are winning games. You have to stay true to what you believe, stick to your principles and that's what we are looking to do."
Coyle spoke about the hectic run of games over the last few weeks. He said: "It's been a big ask for the players with the amount of games they've played and I've got nothing but praise for them with the way they have conducted themselves both on the training ground and on the pitch. We have to keep trying to replicate that.
"It is hard for us to ascertain that level of performance week in week out because of the tempo I like to play at. We are a good team when the tempo and momentum is very high in the game, but when the game slows we're not at our best.
"We have to try and maintain that but it's a big ask because of the pace and energy in the team we need to do that. I really believe the personnel we have are capable of that though and that's why I ask that of them.
"The players have really had a head of steam and momentum. You have seen before the heart and courage they have, they never know when they are beaten. There are loads of time in this run where they could have easily succumbed to going behind but the character, drive and will to win is evident and long may that continue."
On Southampton he warned: "Southampton have shown in their games that they are capable of beating anybody in the league so it will be a tough game. They went to Reading and won so they have no fear and will be looking to bounce back from Monday's defeat to Crystal Palace.
"They are a young team, full of energy, who like to pass the ball and it will be a footballing game. We just have to make sure we can reach our high standards and if we do that we can achieve a positive result."