IAN Moore has urged Burnley to step on the gas in the second half of the season.
The Clarets striker delivered a typically honest mid-term report on the team's roller-coaster season.
And starting with today's testing trip to Crewe, Moore is hoping Stan Ternent's squad can get back on an upwards curve.
The eight-goal hitman, 27, said: "To be honest, I feel the half-term report would say 'could do better'.
"We should really be pushing for the play offs with the players we have and the ability in the camp, but for some reason we have just been a bit off the pace.
"I don't know what other players might think about the situation, given the fact we still have a small squad, but looking at what we have in the team and the players we have brought in, I honestly thought we would be pushing."
In-form Moore, who is gunning for his fourth goal in five games at Crewe today, added: "In the past, we've had a good second half to the season and we have to do that again.
"We can use that as a spur to try and get a few wins together and become a hard team to beat.
"It's all about organisation and concentration because a lot of our defeats have been put down to individual mistakes.
"We seem to have gifted so many and that seems to be the main problem the gaffer is on to us about all the time.
"We gift-wrap goals and other teams seem to be capitalising on every single mistake, whereas Robbie Blake and I never seem to be on the receiving end to score goals like that.
"We have to work for our chances and make our own luck and now, if we can just cut out the mistakes, we will be a better side for it."
Meanwhile, Clarets boss Stan Ternent is hoping Moore and Co can carry on where they left off against Preston when they run out at Gresty Road.
Burnley's attacking play in last weekend's thrilling derby day Deepdale defeat was a joy to watch.
And Ternent feels a similar display against Dario Gradi's young guns will finally earn his side their rewards.
He said: "We take plenty of positives from the Preston game because we just got caught with our pants down.
"Most of the team played very well and if we play like that every week, with a little fine tuning, we will be an difficult side to beat."
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