GARETH Taylor admitted it was a relief to get his first goal of the season but he knows he has to keep scoring if he is to keep his place in the side.

The fierce competition for the striking roles means that the big Clarets forward is under constant pressure for his place and he is aware he could be missing for a couple of games very soon.

Last season's top scorer is hoping to be back in the Wales squad to face Italy next month, a call-up that would rule him out of the Walsall game, and he is also just one booking away from a suspension.

"I have spoken before about the frustration of going away on international duty and then losing my place in the team," he said. "It happened again this month after the lads won at Derby.

"Of course I want to play for my country but I am still focusing all my efforts on playing for Burnley."

The other threat to his place is a ban for five yellow cards and he explained: "I got booked on Saturday for a mistimed tackle and, having got a couple of early ones, before you know it you are one away from a ban.

"But as a striker and a big lad you have to take the bookings as part of the job."

Even the joy of scoring his first goal of this campaign did not soften the blow of losing a lead to nine man Bradford on Saturday as he said: "Before the game we would have taken a point away from home but we know we should have won."

The big Burnley striker headed what looked sure to be the winner against the Bantams at Valley Parade after a remarkable run of hitting the woodwork.

"I have been getting closer, hitting the bar and the woodwork as well as having a penalty saved and I know I could be on six or seven goals already," he admitted.

"Then I got a great cross from Glen and scored."

In the end it was not enough for the three points and Taylor believes the Clarets have learned an important lesson.

"We had the game under our belt but we did not go for another goal that we were capable of," he said. "But football is always a learning experience and we just have to make sure that something like that will never happen again.

"There is no point in fingering someone out for blame, we just have to put it right together."

The last three matches that Taylor has started have been alongside Dimitri Papadopoulos and he has backed his young Greek striker in the debate about his alleged willingness to dive all over the place.

Papadopoulos was at the centre of a row between rival bosses Stan Ternent and Nicky Law and Taylor said: "He is a strong lad who gets stuck in.

"Against Bradford I thought he was fouled both times and he went down, that is all there is to it. He is very quick and sometimes if you get knocked at pace you do go over but he is not a cheat."

While he and the Greek have started the last two games, Robbie Blake and Ian Moore are desperate to get back in.

"We know it is a squad game but we all want to play," said Taylor. "The gaffer has changed things around a bit and I don't mind who I play with.

"I have done well with Mooro in the past and I like playing with Robbie. He drifts off into space and gives us something different."

The attacking options ensure that Taylor and the rest will be particularly keen to see the team sheet when it is pinned up ahead of the visit of Wimbledon and he just hopes he has done enough to keep his place in the side.