BURNLEY captain Dan Pickup insists his team will bounce back following their surprise double defeat last weekend.

The Lancashire League Division One leaders saw their five-game unbeaten run ended by Todmorden - 24 hours after Clitheroe knocked them out of the Worsley Cup.

The Turf Moor skipper admitted it was a set back but he is hoping it is nothing more than a blip in their quest to win the title for the first time since 2015.

Burnley have been virtually unstoppable in the last two months, losing just one of their previous eight league matches prior to the trip to Tod.

Before last weekend, they had beaten Norden, Accrington and Church by seven, eight and six wickets respectively.

But it was roles reversed at Centre Vale as Todmorden sealed a seven-wicket victory.

Pickup said it had been a ‘bit of slog’ playing three games on three successive days with the club on T20, Worsley Cup and league duty - but he was making no excuses.

“Losing to Todmorden, in the manner we did, was a bit of a surprise, a shock really, considering how well we had been playing in the previous weeks,” said Pickup who bats at number three.

“But it was one of those things, hopefully it was a blip and we can bounce straight back.

“Last week was a bit of a slog as we had to play three games and I think we were a bit tired come the Sunday. But every credit to Todmorden, they played really well and deserved their victory.”

Pickup knows there is no room for another lapse today when they host second-placed Walsden in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash.

The reigning champions - just like third-placed Lowerhouse a few points behind - are beginning for find some form so Pickup knows his team will have to be at the best.

“We have to get it right,” he said. “This is a massive game for us. We played Walsden first game of the season and we beat them at their place but they are very good side and have strung some good results together.

“Everyone is saying it this season, but it is a lot more competitive than it has been in previous years.”

Burnley were beaten finalists in the Worsley Cup last season and Pickup was hoping his side would go one better this time around before they came unstuck against Clitheroe on Saturday.

“If anything, that was the bigger blow,” he said. “We really wanted to win the Worsley Cup this season having gone so close last year. But just like I said about Walsden, Clitheroe are another very good team on their day and they go the better of us.”

Today’s clash will be Jim Allenby last as sub professional before he jets off home to Australia.

While Pickup is sad to see him go, he is looking forward to working with other professionals.

“Jim has been superb for us in his time here,” said Pickup who will Daryn Smit for a chunk of the remaining fixtures. “Daryn is coming in to help us out then we will be using other sub pros until the end of the season.

“Some see that has a negative because you lose that continuity but I like to look at it as a positive, getting to work with different players and continually freshened up things in and round the team.”