TIDYING up the sloppiness before the Tigers come a-calling on Saturday will be Owen Coyle's priority following two Premier League defeats that have certainly smarted.
Poor goals cost the Clarets dear against old foes Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire derby at Ewood Park after the international break and unfortunately, Brian Jensen's ankle twist apart, it was much the same against Wigan as Burnley's unbeaten at ho
me record went against a useful Wigan outfit last weekend.
It makes the match against Hull a proverbial six pointer and one Burnley must look to win. It would help maroon the Tigers further and restore some needed confidence in the Burnley ranks.
Burnley have not been short of that when starting both games - they were both quick out of the traps and on the scoresheet in both games but were unable to hold the lead for long enough.
Certainly the Clarets are missing the defensive midfield capabilities of Chris McCann and also the efforts of Martin Paterson up front. Although Pato had not got on the Premiership scoresheet his work rate, harrying defences and goalkeepers, did not give the opposition time to dwell on the ball, allowing Burnley to settle more.
However both will be out until Christmas, so Coyle will have to pore over fresh strategies if the current one, which includes pushing centre back Andre Bikey up into midfield, doesn't reap reward soon.
Fellow midfielders Robbie Blake and Wade Elliott also need to do more to retain or, more to the point, keep possession better to reduce the amount of ball opponents have been seeing recently.
CONGRATULATIONS are due to long standing Todmorden Burnley supporter Mrs Gladys Woodall, who attended the dinner to launch legend Jimmy McIlroy's biography last weekend.
Gladys, attending the event at Turf Moor with son Charles and daughter-in-law Margaret, has chalked up around 75 years watching the Clarets, and she and her son Frank who accompanies her to games, have both been granted honorary membership of Burnley Football Club.
She was surprised on the night to be presented with her honorary membership by club chairman Barry Kilby, having watched the club from the pre-war years.
Author of the book, Jimmy Mac - Prince of Inside Forwards, Dave Thomas, who is from Todmorden and was a schoolfriend of Margaret, helped prepare the way for the award and presentation which made it a special night for the Bob Lord Stand season ticket holder as well as Mac himself.
