STEVE COTTERILL has issued a rallying call for fans to turn up at Turf Moor this week and roar Burnley into the top six.

The Clarets boss has admitted to a tinge of disappointment that his team's solid start to the season has not sparked an increase in attendances.

And as Burnley gear up for their first home game in three weeks against Coventry City tonight, followed by a televised home clash with Derby County on Friday, Cotterill is urging fans to turn out in force and raise the roof.

"We are overdue a game at Turf Moor and the only thing that's a bit disappointing at the moment is our home crowds," he said.

"I know it's tough in the area, but I thought our crowds might be a bit higher. We had a great crowd against Sheffield United on the first day of the season and I wondered if that might be a gauge, but it wasn't and they haven't stayed up there to give us a bit more money to play with.

"We need the crowds and I know our supporters work long and hard for their money and might want to spend it on their families and not on football.

"We do have good supporters and they are really noisy, but we could just do with a few more thousand in here."

Looking forward, Cotterill added: "On Friday, especially, we don't really want them watching the game on Sky.

"I don't know how many we could get, but I just wonder if we could break the 20,000 barrier?

"It would be fantastic for the lads to run out at Turf Moor in front of a crowd like, that but first we have Coventry and we need support at that one too.

"We have done more than okay this season, so it would just be nice if the crowds could be lifted as bit."

Cotterill will leave tonight's team selection until the last minute following concerns over first teamers Ian Moore and Michael Duff.

Defender Duff should be cleared to play after being sent for a blood test yesterday to determine whether cramps he has been suffering in recent games are linked to a bout of food poisoning.

Moore presents a more long term problem following the news he needs a knee operation to remove some calcified bone.

The operation could rule the striker out for up to two months, but Cotterill insisted: "We have to deal with it.

"There is no other way around it and that's why it's difficult at the moment. I don't know how we deal with it yet though.

"It depends on lots of things; player availability and finances mostly."

Another option open to Cotterill is to use Graham Branch as an emergency striker, with Jean Louis Valois replacing him on the left hand side and Lee Roche reprising a role he played in pre-season, on the right side of midfield.