8:00am Saturday 4th September 2010
By Matt Donlan
FIRED-up Clarets chief Brian Laws is relishing the prospect of some huge games coming up for Burnley – and admits there “is no point” pretending Preston and Bolton are just normal matches.
Burnley roar back into action after this weekend’s international break with a huge Turf Moor collision with derby rivals North End next Saturday.
They then welcome controversial former boss Owen Coyle back as Bolton make the short journey from Horwich for a Carling Cup barnstormer later this month and Laws knows just how much the two clashes mean to the fans - because he feels the same way.
To make sure the Clarets are ready for the double, Laws has allowed the squad time off this weekend and he said: “It is important that they get a couple of days off so they can recharge their batteries, get ready and reflect so that we are right for the next games.
“And they are great games, Preston and then Bolton shortly after that - and there is no point pretending they are ordinary games.
“I am not a manager who turns around and says ‘this is an ordinary game and we will prepare in the normal way’ - you can’t prepare for these type of games in an ordinary game, no way.
“I don’t believe that for one minute you can treat Preston as a as normal game.
“It’s about more than the points, which are very important of course, and it’s vital for the supporters that we have that attitude.
“I get very driven for derbies because they are vital for the supporters and there is no point pretending otherwise.”
Laws says the same goes for the visit of Bolton on September 21 - and the other matches in a hectic three weeks coming up.
“We play seven games in 21 days and they are all big ones,” he said.
“I feel that we have had a decent start and we will keep an eye on things this weekend and look out for our players who are away on international duty.
“Hopefully they will come through that period free of injury.”
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