STEVE Cotterill has urged Burnley supporters not to inspire old-boys Robbie Blake and Ian Moore.

The former Clarets pair are expected to get the starting nod for Leeds in tonight's War of the Roses Championship clash at Turf Moor.

But rather than hand Blake and Moore a rousing reception on their old stomping ground, Clarets boss Cotterill is hoping the duo are knocked off their game by home fans.

"Everybody knows what sort of time I had for Blakey," said Cotterill.

"And I had a good working relationship with Ian Moore when he was here.

"But what I don't want tonight is for them to get a standing ovation from our supporters.

"Preferably I would rather they boo every touch.

"But after the final whistle, we will shake hands with Blakey and wish him good luck.

"It's funny, we do that sometimes. We are quite respectful to players that have been here in the past.

"Having said that, Blakey got booed the year before.

"But when any of our players go back (to former clubs), they always seem to get taunted and booed everywhere.

"Perhaps that's something we should re-think.

"Give him a clap afterwards but not too much of that, it encourages them to start enjoying the stage they are playing on.

"It is tongue-in-cheek. I like Robbie and Ian Moore, but I won't really like them too much tonight if they are playing well."

Clarets supporters were in terrific voice, especially during the second-half, in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham.

And as Burnley strive to end a run of three straight league defeats, Cotterill is hoping for more of the same against their Yorkshire rivals.

Cotterill added: "I always like playing at home, especially when our supporters are up for it.

"I thought they were magnificent on Saturday in the second-half.

"That far side opposite me really got everybody going and they were as good as they've been for noise and continually singing.

"We are going to need that because Leeds will have a full end - the best end.

"That's the worse thing about playing at home. We never get the good end.

"It's never the best when you're sat in the dressing room and you can hear the opposition fans.

"As regards the set-up playing at home, it is poor and it does have a bearing on things.

"In the next couple of games, the fans that we've got in the other three stands around the ground are really going to have to lift the roof off, so Leeds and Sunderland don't come here and outsing us and make it an away game for us."

Leeds are at the wrong end of the Championship table following a turbulent start to the season, which saw the club sack Kevin Blackwell.

But results are starting to turn around under new boss Dennis Wise, with two victories out of their last three matches.

Cotterill said: "Leeds have some good players. Only they know perhaps what went on at the beginning of the season.

"But they do seem to have picked up."

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