FORMER Clarets favourite David Eyres has been the victim of an FA Cup upset at Cheltenham's Whaddon Road but he is backing Burnley to triumph on Sunday.

Eyres was in the Oldham side that lost to the Robins in the third round and set up the fourth round tie at the weekend.

While the "shock" was not the greatest in the history of the great competition it showed the Robins are a threat to higher division sides on their own ground.

"Cheltenham have got a very strong physical side and they play to their strengths but I think Burnley will be too good for them," admitted the 37-year-old winger.

"They have got the big lad Julian Alsop up front and the first thing they do is get the ball forward to him as often as possible with Tony Naylor playing off him."

Eyres, who scored 37 goals in 175 league games for the Clarets in the mid-90s, expects Burnley to face more of the same on Sunday.

"We were out-muscled and to be honest never handled Alsop," he said.

"There will not be many defenders who will be beating him in the air so the important thing is to make sure that you get the second ball."

But Eyres also warned the Clarets that the Robins can play decent football despite their reliance on Alsop.

"Their main fire-power is up the pitch but they can knock it about," he said. "And when the ball is up there Naylor is always sniffing about.

"It will be a tough test and Burnley might have to settle for a draw down there but I do fancy them to go through. Cheltenham are physical but they will be up against a much stronger side than we are.

"The lads that Stan Ternent has got in his side have been there and done it all before and they should be more than a match for Cheltenham. That is why I can't see them losing.

"We aren't as strong as a lot of other sides and we were beaten by their strength. That should not happen to Burnley and they should be in the last 16."

It is four seasons since Eyres left Turf Moor but he still has a strong affection for the place and he has been delighted to see them flying high near the top of the first division this season.

"I hope they can stick near the top and get into a play-off place at worst," he said. "I also think that a Cup run will help them in the league because success breeds confidence and there is nothing like winning games.

"And once you get to the last 16, anything could happen."

Eyres next stop after Burnley was Preston North End where he was a very popular player for three years and he confessed that he would love to see them progress in the Cup and improve in the league.

"It would be great to see Burnley and North End in the play-offs together and, who knows, in the final down in Cardiff," he said. "But that is one match I would definitely have to sit on the fence for."

That is not the case on Sunday when he expects first division brain to tell against third division brawn.