AFTER starting the season with four successive away wins Burnley have now lost four on the trot.

The task at Gillingham tonight is to make sure they do not make it an infamous five.

It could not have been a better start to the season away from Turf Moor as Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Bradford and Birmingham City were all put to the sword.

But since then they have travelled to Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest and Wolves on Sunday, coming away with nothing.

The absence of key wingers Glen Little and Alan Moore has undoubtedly been a factor in the drop in form, although at least Little is now available again, if not fully fit.

The first three away setbacks were narrow defeats that could have seen the Clarets at least take a point but that was not the case on Sunday.

The defeat at Wolves was the result of a first half capitulation which could not be masked by the fact that they were unlucky to concede two of the three goals.

Meanwhile, the home side themselves have just ended a run of five straight defeats in league and cup with the weekend win against Walsall, a first victory in more than a month.

Away defeats at Birmingham City and Wimbledon and home losses against Norwich and Coventry City saw Gillingham drop towards the foot of the table but three vital points have lifted them clear of the drop zone -- and by all accounts their performances have been better than their results would indicate.

For that reason manager Andy Hessenthaler is expected to name the same side as that which beat the Saddlers as central defender Barry Ashby is still out through suspension.