STEVE Cotterill will send his defence out at Ipswich with the message: Keep doing what comes naturally.

The Clarets manager believes a telepathic understanding is the reason his watertight back line have conceded just seven league goals in 12 games.

And he hopes more of the same can help stop Ipswich in their tracks at Portman Road tomorrow.

"We've had good defensive performances, but I honestly couldn't tell you the last time we worked with our back four," said Cotterill.

"We don't get a lot of time for training with the games coming twice a week. By the time the lads have had their rest and recuperation, then come back to life, they want a bit of football given to them.

"You can't stand them around all the time because they'd soon get fed up. If you've got good players then you have a chance - and that's what we've got."

Cotterill vehemently scoffs at suggestions that the Clarets have adopted a negative approach on the road, with just one goal conceded and one goal scored in six league games.

He added: "It's always good to keep clean sheets, but we haven't gone anywhere for a nil-nil.

"Defending starts at the front and Danny Coyne and the back four will be very grateful to the midfield players and strikers in front of them.

"It's definitely a team game and we have created plenty of chances away from home.

"When you've got the likes of Ian Moore, Robbie Blake, Richard Chaplow and Jean-Louis Valois in your team you're always going to create chances, and the other players supporting them will help.

"We won't go on missing chances, but equally we also won't carry on keeping clean sheets all the time. "Things are going to even out somewhere along the line, but what you have to bear in mind is some of the teams we've played away from home; Wigan, Leicester, Reading, and now Ipswich.

"I just wonder if there's too many clubs out there with that run of games away from home."

MIcah Hyde should be fully refreshed for the trip to the joint league leaders after rejoining Burnley 24 hours ahead of schedule due to his suspension from Jamaica's midweek game against El Salvador.

And Cotterill was delighted to report a clean bill of health following the news that versatile defender Lee Roche is now back in training following a month out with a hamstring strain.

The Clarets boss said: "I think that with all the obstacles we've had to overcome this season, and what we have to work with, we've done remarkably well.

"That's all credit to all the players and I just hope we can keep that going tomorrow."