WHAT a difference a year makes! On this day last season the Clarets were flying high at the top of the table with maximum points from three games and looking forward to taking on Manchester City at Turf Moor.

Confidence and optimism were high and the games could not come quickly enough.

Today Burnley travel to the Madejski Stadium with another 100 per cent record but this time a most unwanted one. Three straight defeats means they are the only side in the first division without a point.

As he looked ahead to tonight's match at Reading, Clarets boss Stan Ternent confessed: "There is no doubt that the players are not playing with the confidence that winning matches brings. We have got to be realistic about that.

"But at the same time we have got to be tough enough and strong enough to come through it. I have to talk to them and talk to them because to be fair it is patently obvious confidence is missing.

"At this stage last season we were winning matches and everyone was confident but we have got basically the same squad of players."

The problem for Ternent is that the form is a continuation of the struggles after Christmas last season and in the last 25 League games the Clarets have won just six times.

That poor run of form cost them a place in the play-offs in heartbreaking fashion on the final day of last season and the players seem to be suffering a hangover from that massive setback.

But if his players lack belief, the manager has certainly not given up on them and he said: "I have got every confidence in them and the signs were there in the second half on Saturday that we can pull it round.

"We had a right go but unfortunately things did not pan out for the players. That said, they did everything they could."

Ternent is sure he must have had a similar start to the season somewhere during his 40 years in the game and he admitted: "I have certainly had worse than three defeats on the bounce. We have had a couple of sixes before.

"But over the last two years the players have set their own high standards and this club is now a scalp that others want to take.

"The way we have started has come as a bit of a shock but we must remember it is a marathon, not a sprint."

The Clarets did not set off to the game until they had trained in Burnley this morning and Ternent admitted that it was just another sign of the tough times at Turf Moor.

"Last season we would certainly have had an overnight stop for a game like this," he confessed.

"We are just hoping that there will be no problems with late Bank Holiday traffic but it is not ideal going up and down in the day."

The latest example of belt tightening may have to be repeated as the Clarets fixture list features plenty of long journeys and there is no sign of a let-up in the struggle to balance the club's books.

But if the team can finally get some points on the board, no one will mind too much about the long journey home.