BURNLEY'S players have the perfect chance to start winning back support when they take on Preston North End at Turf Moor tonight.

The fans who stayed away on Saturday, those who left early in disgust and those who booed them off at the end of the Watford game have demonstrated their anger in different ways.

But Burnley's assistant manager Sam Ellis admitted: "We understand how they feel because we are going through the same emotions.

"The fans know we have pulled ourselves out of it before but the mood in the camp is still good. They are professional and Stan's mood is up.

"The fans can see the team is working hard, we had chances on Saturday, their keeper made saves, we hit the post and we were scoring goals.

"As a defender myself I know the lads will have gone home and had a poor weekend but if you have a nightmare you have got to pick yourselves up and just get on with it."

Having struggled so badly at the weekend, Ellis believes a Red Rose clash is just what the players need to see them do just that.

"A derby game is a good one for us to look forward to and the good thing is that whenever our players have had a bad time they have stood up to be counted," he insisted.

"The match against Preston is a good one for them to do that."

But Ellis admitted it has been a hard couple of days since the 7-4 mauling by Watford as he explained: "It is difficult to analyse games when you score four and five goals and still go and get beat.

"But we have said to the players that if they keep scoring four goals they might win a game or two. The thing about football is that whatever you practise, it all comes down to people.

"As a group we are all going through that sort of bad period but we hope to put it right tonight. That is important for everyone connected with the club.

"Nothing cheers a place, a football club or a town more than a winning football team.

"It has all gone wrong for us since the FA Cup defeat and if I could put my finger on why I would be a genius."

By coincidence the other time Burnley were involved in an 11-goal thriller this season, a 6-5 defeat at Grimsby, their next opponents were also Preston.

The Clarets were unlucky losers that afternoon, losing 3-1 after mounting a spirited fightback having gone behind and Ellis said: "We always have a good game against Preston, a good physical game."

The problem for Ternent is that bodies are again thin on the ground with a number of players still short of match fitness.

Long term problems exist for Paul Cook and Alan Moore and his options are further depleted by the loss of Arthur Gnohere who will be serving the first of a two match ban for his dismissal against Bradford City a fortnight ago.

"We have just got he same players as we had on Saturday as Drissa still needs another day of work," said Ellis. Ian Cox is also likely to be missing as are Gordon Armstrong and Andy Payton.

The big decision for the manager will be whether to replace Marlon Beresford in goal with Nik Michopoulos.

One young man who is keen to be involved again is young winger Matty O'Neill who made his debut at the weekend. He looked bright and gave the fans a lift and Ellis said: "He had 15 minutes and it would have been a super debut if he could have won. But he showed one or two tricks as well as his long throw."