"FORTUNE favours the brave," claimed Clarets boss Stan Ternent as he reflected on the club's electrifying start to the season.

With 27 goals scored and 17 conceded Burnley are the great entertainers in the first division, even keeping Kevin Keegan's much vaunted Manchester City in the shade.

The Clarets still top the table having collected 22 points from the first ten games and the delighted boss said: "If we keep up that rate of return we will have got 88 points with six games left and that is championship form.

"There is a long time to go but I know what it takes to get promotion, you are always aiming to average two points a game.

"I do think the whole division will be tighter this season than last, although there are a couple of teams who might be able to buy their way out in Man City and Wolves."

The players' never-say-die attitude was once again evident against Crewe on Tuesday night as they twice came back from the brink.

"The lads never turn it in and they will always go for it and try to score goals," he said. "If you keep going forward time and time again you will get chances. That is why no one has scored more than us although I know there aren't many who have conceded more.

"But it was a tough game against Crewe. I think people forget that we are only in our second season in the first division while they have been in it for four years.

"They are experienced and the club has spent more money on players than I have.

"I spent £750,000 on Steve Davis, they spent that on Jack. I bought Coxy for £500,000, they bought Dave Walton.

"I know people expected us to beat them but there really are no easy games in this division."

Ternent is currently having to cope with his first major problems of the new campaign as the injuries continue to mount at Turf Moor.

Glen Little and Alan Moore were already very doubtful for Saturday's trip to take on West Bromwhich Albion at The Hawthorns and other players may also be struggling.

"Cooky (Paul Cook) got a bit of a calf strain and Gordon Armstrong a thigh strain," he admitted.

"But the good news is that Ian Cox is back in full time training and that means he will be available."

Ternent changed the course of Tuesday's game when he switched formations after the break with the side 2-0 down and he said: "We have spent three and a half years working together and that is the reason we were able to do that.

"The players should be able to change and they are getting better at it. If you are playing 4-4-2 against a team that goes 4-5-1 you might need to add a man to the middle of the park.

"But we have those options because we have the players who can take on different roles."

As he puts together his squad for the match at the Baggies, Ternent knows that flexibility might well be needed.

Meanwhile, Rossendale Clarets have spaces available for the trip to West Brom.

The coach picks up from Rossendale, Rochdale, Littleborough and Todmorden. Anyone interested should call Bev on 01706 224924.