STEVE Cotterill is staggered that Burnley are on the brink of going penalty-less in 2006.

The Clarets are four Championship games away from completing the calendar year without a single penalty awarded in their favour.

A run of 43 competitive matches have passed since Burnley last landed a spot-kick, on New Year's Eve when Garreth O'Connor netted from 12 yards against Sheffield Wednesday.

The issue was brought into stark focus with costly penalties going against the Clarets in their previous two outings at Ipswich and Coventry.

"We could have easily had maximum points from those two games," said Burnley boss Cotterill.

"But four points would have been a true return.

"But we haven't got it. We've had two decisions go against us and it's probably been a bigger sickener with it being penalties, because we haven't had a penalty in the calendar year.

"The last one was on New Year's Eve, so it is coming up to our anniversary! I cannot explain that.

"I'm interested to know if any team, in the whole of the Football League, has gone this long without a penalty."

The Clarets have been unlucky not to register a clean sheet in their last three games - two penalties and a deflected David Healy strike for Leeds dashing their hopes.

But Cotterill has been delighted with his defence and believes it is only a matter of time before skipper Wayne Thomas and his defensive colleagues earn a shutout.

Cotterill explained: "We could have had three clean sheets on the bounce.

"We've had two penatlies against us and a deflected shot - that's done us from getting three clean sheets.

"But I feel that once you get one clean sheet, we could go on and get a few. It's funny how they fall into place.

"Nine times out of 10, they are pretty good back there and organised. It's only a matter of time before it comes."

He added: "We haven't been built up to defend this season.

"The team has probably evolved a little bit over the years, whereas when I first came here we could not really win, but we had to make sure we kept clean sheets and did not get beat.

"Last year, we were a bit of both and this year, we've been built more to win.

"Unfortunately, when you are built to win, you can get beat. But I would rather take the risk of winning."

For the first time since September, the Clarets have dipped out of the Championship's top six.

But with Sunderland making the journey to Turf Moor tomorrow, Cotterill is hoping to see his side back in the play-off places.

Cotterill said: "We've been there (top six) for most of the season.

"We are disappointed we are out of it, but you don't get anything for being in the top six in the months we've been there.

"We know what we've got to do to get back in there and that's to notch up a few wins."