ANOTHER recess in the football season and another chance to assess Burnley’s hopes of Premier League survival.

The bottom of the table holding all three of last term’s promoted teams in its relegation zone may not be good reading, yet just one almighty three point performance can return us to the escaping pack.

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I think we all know that with a little more awareness and professionalism, we should have a conservative extra ten points on the board, putting us in a mid-table berth.

The fact that we haven’t secured the necessary returns against the teams around us has made our task considerably harder – but not impossible.

Generally Burnley have acquitted themselves better against the better teams, and losing 2-0 to an in-form Liverpool side was no disgrace last week at Anfield.

But it’s wins we need, and somehow we have to find a way to create more chances if we are to be successful in our aim of retaining Premier League status with just ten games to play.

Before the game I made a point of visiting one of the so called ‘magnificent seven’ pubs that have featured in every edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since its inception in 1974.

The Roscoe Head, on Roscoe Street, is only a short walk from Lime Street railway station and is certainly worth seeking out. It is a cosy four-roomed premises which lets its beer do the talking.

Put it on your ‘must do’ list when we play Everton next month and I’ll leave you to decide.

To come off your goal line or stay put? That is the decision keeper Tom Heaton has to make in every match when a cross is pinged over.

For me, every goalie should command his six-yard box where possible, restricting the opposition’s chances of a headed goal, which we have failed to do on far too many timesoccasions in this campaign due to poor marking in the main.

Yet on Wednesday night Tom was our extra defender, blocking chances with his legs and punching clear more times than any game this season. Given the quality of the teams we are up against he has probably got the hardest, most pressurised job in our starting eleven and he deserves full credit for his endeavours.

That situation isn’t likely to ease any in the immediate future, starting with the reigning Premier League champions in town on Saturday for our tea-time kick-off at the Turf.

It was a good draw at the Etihad against Man City in December. If we can play at that same level we are in with a chance.