BORN-AGAIN striker Ade Akinbiyi today thanked forgiving Burnley fans and set himself new goals in life.

Akinbiyi performed a victory roll earlier this week after scoring twice against QPR to take his tally to four goals in six starts since the infamous two-minute debut as a substitute against Sunderland.

And the £600,000 striker, who has now found the net three times in two home games, praised Clarets fans for the rousing reception he received following his brace on Tuesday night.

Akinbiyi said: "Naturally I'm delighted at the start I've made. Obviously not the very start because of the red card against Sunderland, but ever since then I have been trying to make up for the sending off and goals go a long way towards that.

"That's football for you. One minute you are the villain and then next you are flavour of the month.

"But every Burnley fan has stuck by me and I need to thank them for that. I could have come back into the side and received a mixed reception, but they have stood by me and I would like to think the goals are for them."

Akinbiyi, 30, feels Burnley would still be challenging for a play-off place but for the three-match ban he incurred for his sending off against the Black Cats.

He insisted: "I look back and I really think we could have been in the top half and challenging if I hadn't been sent off.

"I believe I would have scored more goals to push us up there, but unfortunately it wasn't to be.

"However, I'm much happier now the goals are coming and I'm looking forward now, not back.

"We face Nottingham Forest on Saturday and the gaffer was on at us about that game straight from the final whistle on Tuesday.

"We know they really need to win to have a chance of avoiding relegation, but we

have to go there and play our own game.

"It's not our problem they're in that position and it is all about doing the job for Burnley and getting us as high as we can in the final three games.

"We still want to finish in the top half if we can and that would represent a good end to the season."

Meanwhile, Burnley boss Steve Cotterill is the special guest at Turf Moor tonight for a special 'Audience with...' evening, organised by the Clarets Trust.

Former Burnley players Willie Irvine, Andy Lochhead and Vince Overson make up the panel for the event, which starts in the James Hargreaves Suite at 8.30pm.

Entry is free for all Trust members and £3 for all other supporters, who will have their money refunded if they join the Trust during the evening.