Turf troops need

to battle for points TUESDAY night's clean sheet was a big bonus for the Clarets and midfielder Paul Weller explained the secret behind the return to winning ways.

"The manager just sent us out there and told us all to win our individual battles," he said.

Now he and his team mates are ready to do the same when they take on Wolves at Molineux on Sunday afternoon.

The 26-year-old feels he has played better in games where the club has not picked up three points but he said: "The gaffer told me I won my battle (with Julian Gray) and I did not let him get into the game.

"It was very important for us to get back to winning ways and we looked more solid by going back to 3-5-2."

The 1-0 win was the first such scoreline of the season, by the end of October last season the Clarets had already notched up six.

"It has been lovely scoring three or four goals in a game but when you attack like that you do become a bit vulnerable," he said. "We have kept pushing forward and so lost goals at the back."

The top of the table is starting to resemble Piccadilly Circus with the top 12 sides separated by just half a dozen points and Weller expects both Tuesday night's opponents Palace and Sunday's rivals Wolves to be challenging near the top.

"At the start of the week we knew both teams were flying high even though Wolves had suffered a bit of a dip," he said. "But it does not matter who we play or where we play them, we know we are going to have a tough game.

"I don't think there is any great team in the division that is going to run away with it and even after our poor run we have not fallen too many positions."

Like everyone at the club Weller was delighted to see Glen Little back in action but he warned: "Glen has still got a lot of work to do to get back to full fitness but I am pleased to see him back in the squad."

Weller had his own injury problems at the start of the season but returned to action when he replaced the injured Alan Moore at Norwich City and he has started ever since.

Like many of his team mates he is versatile and has been used in a variety of positions across the middle of the park.

"It was a tough battle against Palace and we did get frustrated by the referee, at times it was like being against 12 men," he said. "But we are back to winning ways and we have to try and continue it."

Weller played in both games against Wolves last season, both narrow defeats, but he is hopeful that Sunday's match will see another battling display from the Clarets - and another three points.