This week for us has been one of preparing for another home game against Hull but for our opponents it's been a strange old week with the chairman gone and the manager having to hold an early press conference to confirm he is still there.
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The pressure has been building on the manager who holds half time team talks on the pitch, sings to the crowd and wanders round with a sweater over his shoulder sporting a fake tan.
A former team mate of Owen Coyle at Bolton, and a friend of his, Phil Brown has finally been able to concentrate on preparing his side for their trip to the Turf.
After looking back at the week Brown said today: "The only way to move on is with results on the field. It's the only way to stop the speculation and it's the only way to stop the rumours from hurting our football club.
"If we can put our best foot forward on Saturday and endeavour to get a result, put in a positive performance, then you can look forward to the next game."
Looking at the match, and at Burnley, Brown added: "They've been a tremendous success. Nobody expected them to beat Manchester United at Turf Moor, apart from themselves probably, and that is the kind of believe and spirit that we're going to have to break down.
"They compounded that win against United with a win against Everton. They've had four wins and they've all been at Turf Moor, so it would have been surprising for them that they were turned over by Wigan last weekend.
"I know Coyley. He's a positive lad and he'll want to build on what he's started, none more so than with a performance at home against one of the rival sides that he thinks is going to be down there.
"It's being billed as a six pointer. As far as we're concerned it isn't a six pointer, it's just the next three points."
Owen Coyle has asked the Burnley fans to get there in numbers tomorrow and get behind the team. "We have worked ever so hard to get here, fans, staff, players alike," he said.
"We are all here for the same purpose, to achieve success for Burnley Football Club. It's important we stick together and we show that and show a united front. The fans stuck with the players last week and the disappointment of losing the first home game since February was a mark of how far we've come.
"When you fall off a bicycle as a kid you want to get straight back on. We want to win games and points in this league and Saturday gives us that opportunity. What we want to do is go on one of those extended runs again.
"We know it's difficult because of the nature of the Premier League but we know we can win games, particularly at Turf Moor and that's what we will be looking to do on Saturday."
Coyle continued: "The fans have been fantastic and for me are the best in the world. They know how hard we have had to work collectively to earn the right to be where we are and they know how hard the players are working to give them results.
"If we do retain Premier League status it's against all odds and the fans are included in that because we are the smallest town in the league.
"When we bring it all together it's a sight to behold and it's gone some way to picking up the points we have got, but we have to stick together through thick and thin. There will be ups and downs but the one thing we've shown at this football club is that we stick together.
"Yes, there will always be the snipers who want to give a bit of stick out three. Let them do that, but we will stay resolute and show the football we know can win games."
With a brief word for Phil Brown he added: "Browny is a friend of mine, he was my captain at Bolton and a man I've got a lot of time for. But he knows on Saturday my focus and desire is to get three points for Burnley." |
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