CUP kings Burnley are looking to their Pride Park heroics to stiffen up their promotion challenge over the Christmas holiday period.

The Clarets slipped quietly out of the Second Division play-off places while they were knocking Derby County of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Wins for Notts County and in-form Millwall pushed Burnley down to seventh place.

But they remain just five points behind the top two and the Clarets are determined to close the gap by building on their cup shock.

"I don't think belief is a problem. We went into the game on Saturday thinking we could win it and you've got to have belief to go in with that attitude," said midfield man John Mullin.

"It's just a question of turning in that sort of performance in the league week-in, week-out. And if we do that we shouldn't have a problem.

"The league's the priority. We want to be playing First Division football next season so we've got to concentrate, get our minds back on the league for Saturday and hopefully produce the same kind of performance against Cardiff."

Burnley are preparing to entertain a Cardiff side that has lost seven of their 10 away league games this season.

And with holiday games then to come against Bury (away), Oxford (home) and Notts County (away), boss Stan Ternent will have his players sharply focussed on the job in hand. "We want to try and be a First Division football club. The league is our priority and we've got to crack on," said Ternent, who is looking to his players to maintain the high standards they have set themselves.

He added: "It's all about that producing level of performance consistently. We are improving all the time. I have said all along that we would get better and we are doing. But again the proof of the pudding is in the eating."

Ternent is confident that his players will have their feet back on the ground following the positive national Press they received on the back of Saturday's win, and ahead of the fourth-round tie they have earned at Coventry City.

And match-winner Andy Cooke confirmed that the message had got through.

"The league is the most important thing. We will worry about Coventry when it happens because it's back to the league now.

"The gaffer has already said that Cardiff on Saturday is a massive game and one we need to win," he said.

Experienced campaigner Mitchell Thomas has stressed all along that he came to Turf Moor to win things.

And despite their magnificent win at Derby, promotion rather than a Wembley victory remains the most likely souce of success for the Clarets.

"Touch wood we can just keep going progressing steadily in the cup and still climbing up that league.

"We want to be up there in the top two when we finish the season, but if not we'll have to do it the other way," said Thomas.

Colne Clarets Travel: Bury (Boxing Day) leaving Morris Dancers 12.30pm and Cafe Claret at 12.45pm. Notts County (Jan 3): leaving 9.30am, Cafe Claret 9.45pm. Details and bookings to Alan Beecroft on 01282 864147.

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