We are close, but just not close enough

Last updated : 12 November 2010 By Tony Scholes
Watford were 2-1 up at Selhurst Park before two Owen Garvan goals turned the game Palace's way and manager Malky Mackay, who takes charge against Burnley for the first time, has told his players to put that disappointment behind them.

"We could've ended up fifth if we'd won," he said. "The way the table is, the results mean that people are cutting each others throat every week at the moment. Look at Tuesday night and see Bristol City going to Swansea and taking their unbeaten home record, it's that sort of division more than ever this year.

"On another night, we could have scored four or five, we certainly had patches of quality play which made all those chances we had possible. It's disappointing that we lost to two outstanding goals. That doesn't happen often but unfortunately it means that we have got to bounce back from that."

Mackay added: "By this time in the season people know what teams are like and I think that certainly teams have registered that we weren't going to be a soft touch, some sort of easy game, based on pre-season predictions.

"That's changed the way teams have played against us and we've got to show we can adapt and cope with that. You go to somewhere like Burnley and you know that they've got experienced players, they've got good players and are a team that are near the top of the league.

"They're going to be around there at the end of the season, wanting to get back where they came from last year. We know we're in for a tough challenge but we'll be looking to give as good as we get, keep being competitive in every game as I've stressed before this year."

Burnley go into the game looking for a first win in five league games and Brian Laws said: "It's disappointing when we look back at all the points we feel we should have gained out of these games, but we can't allow it to dismantle all the good work that's been going on.

"I can only praise the players for what they are trying to do. They have worked their socks off, they have been creative and they have been turning teams over with a bit of style.

"Yet our finishing has probably just let us down. That's the only criticism I can give them, the fact that we've got to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal and turn the screw when we've got an opportunity.

"The Doncaster game probably epitomised that. Who would have said that if we were four goals to the good at half time, we wouldn't have deserved that? That's how things are. When you are on top so much you have to take those opportunities.

"We are close, but just not close enough. There's nothing greatly wrong. I am getting fed up of saying it, but it is so marginal at the moment. We just need to tweak a couple of things that would put us on a good run.

"At the moment you see a lot of teams out there who are on a decent run, but they will come to an end. We haven't hit ours yet and it will happen."

Asked if he had considered playing two strikers in a 4-4-2 formation, Laws said: "The system we have been playing has been very creative. It's not the system's fault that we have conceded a late goal or the fact that we haven't won the game.

"Whatever system is out there we are creating enough opportunities and chances to win games. It's about being ruthless in front of goal. If it wasn't creating then you would have a problem. There will be opportunities where we will change and we have changed within the game. We have to be adaptable. If we start drying up in terms of opportunities then you have to change and I will change."

He continued: "I have never gone out there to try and draw games. I always try and win games and we are being as positive as we possibly can. We have got enough attacking players out there. It's not a case of we are not creating chances.

"We mustn't get bogged down with thinking 'let's go more gung-ho, attacking wise'. We can't attack any more than we are or be more creative.

"Nineteen attempts at goal against Doncaster shows we are not far away from that finished article. We will keep going the way we are going. The players believe in that. They are disappointed and the supporters are disappointed because we know we should have got more points.

"We can't change that fact. What we can do is continue to work hard, do the right things and we will win games and we are determined to do that on Saturday."