"SO FAR so good" is the message full back Dean West hopes will still be intact after Burnley's Lancashire derby at Oldham Athletic tomorrow.

The Clarets are one of nine clubs unbeaten in their opening two Second Division fixtures.

And despite not clicking into top-gear yet, summer signing West believes that represents an encouraging opening to the new season.

"Taking the Man City game out of it and looking at the League we've had a good start with a draw and win and we're looking forward to tomorrow," West said.

"If you're not playing well but getting results you've just got to work at the game to get better performances later on in the season.

"But to have the points in the bag is the main thing. You're not chasing then."

Oldham would gladly swap their record with Burnley's after starting the campaign with three defeats in league and cup.

Their only home game so far ended in a 1-0 reverse against Preston North End on the opening day of the season.

By all accounts the Latics played well that afternoon but, unlike Burnley, they so far have nothing to show for their efforts.

"When you're not playing well and not losing, that's the sign of a good team I think," West added.

The Latics will be desperate to open their account tomorrow and West knows that Burnley may have to dig deep for spells, as they did when holding onto their 2-1 win against Chesterfield a week ago. He said: "I'm sure we will take a lot of supporters over there and it should be a good game.

"We've got to be strong, organised and go out there and give a professional performance.

"Adding the two league games onto last season we've gone 13 unbeaten so we've got to carry that on."

And as a defender, the former Bury man is likely to have a key role to play in keeping that run going.

West has slotted in on the right-hand side of the Clarets back line, which is likely to be five-strong again tomorrow with a licence to attack for the two full-backs.

"As long as I'm playing I'm not too bothered about the formation but the five does suit me," admitted West, who arrived at Turf Moor without a transfer fee under the Bosman ruling.

"You know you can get forward and you've got three centre-halves behind you who can hold them up while you get back.

"It's solid and the lads have played it quite a lot so it works well."

And while Burnley keep churning out the results, it gives West time to find his feet in what are new surroundings, despite the presence of a clutch of familiar faces from past days at Gigg Lane.

"I'm settling in, not pulling up any trees, but we are working on things in training and working together and hopefully we will get the results going. It's going well," he insisted.

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