The Andy Lochhead column

THE Championship is a very tight division this season and the Clarets are beginning to put together a promising run.

Steve Cotterill has got a great foundation and, despite Burnley not having great resources, they have now ground out back-to-back wins against Nottingham Forest and Brighton and will be looking to add another three points against Millwall tomorrow.

It is a great testament to the spirit that Steve and his backroom staff have engendered in the squad and that the team now believe that they are capable of getting something out of every game they go into.

Because the division is so tight, and the fact that every team is capable of beating anyone else in the league, it means that any kind of run will bring an almost instant bonus in terms of climbing the table.

While I can't go mentioning the phrase 'play-offs', if Burnley can get a sustained run together then a comfortable position in the table is easily attainable. More so, when you consider they have already been to clubs like West Ham, Leeds, Leicester, Ipswich and Wigan and come away having produced very creditable performances.

However, the reliance remains on Robbie Blake to get the goals.

His contribution this season has been priceless and his 10 goals have brought precious points, but the club must be resigned to the fact that at some point they will lose Robbie.

The offer from Nottingham Forest didn't really match anyone's expectations of Blake's value to the Clarets, but when a club is on a budget then every player has his price.

Equally, the last thing Burnley want is Robbie getting to the end of his contract and just walking away from the club.

He is a very important player to the club and our only genuine striker. But if one thing is for sure it's that, at some stage, Robbie will go and the Clarets have to work out what deal will best benefit the club as a whole.