HAVING gone eight league games without defeat, climbing from bottom of the table to ninth in the process, the rejuvenated Clarets have clearly turned the corner.

The question every Burnley supporter would like to know the answer to is: Can they keep it up?

On the face of it, things are looking good.

Second only to the seemingly unstoppable Portsmouth in the current form table, the Clarets have hauled themselves to within three points of the play-offs.

No mean feat when you stop to consider that after five games in August, Burnley had managed just one goal and one point.

However, the next couple of weeks will provide a decent indicator as to just how good the Clarets truly are.

With all due respect to those involved, Burnley have encountered some fairly moderate opposition during their recent revival.

Of the eight teams who have failed to beat Burnley, only Derby and Bradford, 11th and 12th respectively, are in the top half of the table. Of the six other teams, only 16th placed Stoke are not in the bottom third.

This is not to belittle Burnley's renaissance - as the maxim goes, you can only beat what is put in front of you.

It's just that what has been put in front of the Clarets of late has not, quite frankly, been up to much. That however, is about to change.

The next three games pit Burnley against Leicester, Ipswich (both away from home) and Portsmouth.

Of the three teams rejected from last season's Premiership, only Leicester in stark contrast to their off-field turmoil, have shown anything like the form required for an immediate return.

Having lost just the once this season, they will be a tough nut to crack.

Given their inability to adapt to life in Division One, Ipswich would not, under normal circumstances, strike fear into the heart.

The sacking of George Burley however, means that these are not normal circumstances, and it would be just Burnley's luck to run into the Tractor Boys as their players look to impress their new boss.

Which leaves the minor obstacle of high-scoring, big-spending, table-topping Portsmouth, who have recorded 10 wins from 12 thus far. 'Nuff said.

Yet if history is anything to go by, the Clarets should be raring to get out of the blocks.

Teams kicked out of the Premiership do not fare well against Burnley. Coventry, Watford and Derby are yet to take a point from the Clarets. And the best Wimbledon and Bradford have been able to manage is a draw.

In fact, only Sheffield Wednesday have put Burnley to the sword in recent times. Leicester and Ipswich take heed. You have been warned!

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