BRISTOL ROVERS boss Ian Holloway believes Burnley could well be in the promotion shake-up at the end of the season after the Clarets knocked his side off the top of the Second Division.

Saturday's 1-0 win moved Stan Ternent's side to within eight points of Rovers, who slipped to second, with a game in hand.

And the Clarets are now just six points adrift of third-placed Wigan with the Latics next up at Turf Moor, where Burnley have now won eight on the bounce, on Saturday week.

"They won't be doing us ay favours. They will be doing themselves favours if they keep winning," said Holloway.

"It's not a three-horse race. There are all sorts of teams up there doing very well.

"We are in a tough league and there are some very good teams in it. We have played one today and well done to them."

And when the pressure mounts in the final few weeks of the campaign, Holloway believes Burnley will be equipped to handle it. It comes down to character. They showed a lot of that and they might be up there," he added.

The Rovers' chief, manager-of-the-month for January, admitted that Burnley had restricted his side to the fewest chances they have created all season. And he added: "In games like that you've got to get the goal and the goal that won it was exceptional.

"They have only had nine goals against them at home and all credit to them. They are a good side and there's an awful lot of football to be played yet."

Glen Little's wonder-goal following the early dismissal of Andy Payton meant a winning debut for new £500,000 signing Ian Cox.

"I just couldn't wait to get out on the pitch and feel the atmosphere. It was beyond my imagination really, just the electrifying atmosphere the supporters generate. It was just unbelievable," said Cox, who was a key figure in helping Burnley keep the prolific pair of Jason Roberts and Jamie Cureton at bay.

"All I could really have asked for was for me personally to give a good account of myself but most importantly for us to pick up three points, which is exactly what we did," added the former Bournemouth defender.

"They're not at the top of the league for no reason. They are there on merit. For us to go on and get the victory was very commendable.

"The boys showed their team spirit in sticking together in order to grind out a result. We knew it was there for us. It was just a case of having to dig deep.

"I think every game is a big game, whether we are playing the teams at the bottom or the top. It's important that we pick up as many points as possible because the finishing line is in sight and we just want to make sure we pass that in good favour."

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