The Dreadful Run Continues at Deepdale

That meant our back four started as Michael Duff, Steven Caldwell, Chris McCann and Jon Harley, a midfield of Wade Elliott, James O'Connor, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Steve Jones with Kyle Lafferty partnering Ade Akinbyi up front.

We started the game brightly enough and attacked Preston in the opening stages of the game, Kyle Lafferty forced a good save out of Preston Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan after only 3 minutes, with a header from a Wade Elliott free kick.

As the first half went on, the game got scrappy. There were a couple of robust challenges from both sides and Chris McCann was a little unlucky to get a yellow card from the very card happy referee Mr Webster.

Then Preston got and took their opportunity, David Nugent got on the end of a good knock down to finish with a half volley on 33 minutes.

In the second half, Burnley were forced into a change, Graham Branch came on for the injured Steve Caldwell and had to re organise things, Michael Duff went to centre half, Wade Elliott dropped to right back, Kyle Lafferty playing more on the right hand side of midfield with Graham Branch up front with Ade Akinbyi.

The change nearly got its reward as Graham Branch crashed an effort onto the Preston bar half way through the 2nd half. After this, there was plenty of huff and puff from the Clarets in the second half, but zero quality, and Preston took full advantage of this on 75 minutes, Patrick Agyemang finished off a sweeping move to kill the game off.

All in all, it was a scrappy Lancashire derby, Burnley gave a lot of effort but seriously lacked quality and confidence in all areas of the field. I personally didn't think Preston were all that great today either, but what they did do was cleaner and more effective than us. Franck Songo'o looked a dangerous player, he gave Jon Harley a bad time of it down the Preston right hand side.

It's hard to choose a man of the match from today's game, as no one really stood out, Chris McCann did as well as he could filling in at centre half, if I had to choose someone, it would be him.

There were rumbles of discontent at the end, a fair number of the fans sat near myself were chanting for Steve Cotterill Out, others still applauded him, it seemed to be 50/50.

In general there was plenty of effort from the players today, but we are completely void of quality and confidence at the moment.

If Steve Cotterill wishes to continue as manager of Burnley Football Club, it is his job to address those issues of quality and confidence in our play, both of which haven't improved for 18 straight games now.

We are in serious danger of being relegated this season, make no mistake about it, situations reach a point where difficult decisions in the boardroom, the dressing room and on the pitch need to be made in the best interests of Burnley Football Club.