IF Robbie Blake could share out the goals as well as the car journeys with Andy Gray, he'd be a happy man.

But, joking aside, the Clarets creator insists that as long as Burnley are picking up the points, he gets as much pleasure from assisting as he does scoring.

Gray is blistering up the goalscoring charts after taking his tally for the season to 13, when his single strike at Watford was followed up with a deadly double at Charlton Athletic, the first of which was set up by Blake's free kick.

Gray has had praise heaped on him from manager Owen Coyle, who said: "I think he's one goal away from being the top league scorer in the Championship and, as a striker, I'm delighted with him."

But, although Blake is searching for his first goal since October 23, when the Clarets last recorded a home win against Norwich City, he hasn't escaped the new manager's attention either.

"Robbie Blake's been a breath of fresh air - he's so inventive, creating opportunities," continued Coyle.

"He had all the different set plays on Saturday and was unlucky not to score himself. He tried a clever free kick that Weaver made a great save from down low.

"I think he's been a terrific foil for Andy Gray and they work well as a partnership."

And Blake is convinced much of their understanding on the pitch stems from their close relationship off it.

"We drive in together, which is okay apart from he likes to come in about half-six in the morning!" he said.

"We get on well and have a bit of banter so that's good. If you get on well with someone it benefits you on the pitch as well.

"We've got this understanding at the moment.

"He's done really well. It's good that we've got a leading scorer in the charts and I'm pretty sure he'll get over 20 goals.

"I wouldn't mind scoring a few more!

"But I honestly don't mind. Obviously you want to score, but as long as I'm setting them up and the team's winning I've no problem with that."

Added to that, having the likes of Kyle Lafferty and Ade Akinbiyi threatening to fill their shooting boots is another incentive to stay on form.

"There's good competition with Kyle and Ade. Nearly every time Ade's come on he's scored," added Blake.

"We're lucky that we've been winning and scoring, so it's hard to change a winning side. But we've got to still keep pushing and doing things right because if you don't you're going to be out of the side."

That's the perogative of a football manager. And although Coyle is less than two weeks into his tenure, Blake has been blown away by the impact the former St Johnstone boss has had on the squad, and club, in such a short space of time.

"It's been unreal," said the 31-year-old ahead of tonight's home game against Leicester City.

"I think it helped that there was a game straight away because everyone obviously wanted to impress.

"It was a good result (against Stoke), then we played Watford off the park and that was a good result again. I think it's just been ticking on from there really.

"It's been fantastic.

"He's been different class and the lads have totally responded.

"He's done really well and given us belief. It's not about other teams, it's about what we want to do.

"I think in the three games he's been here he's shown that belief's there for us and it's rubbing off on the lads and we're enjoying playing and winning games."

And Blake believes Coyle is already arming Burnley with the requirements that are needed to make them serious play-off contenders.

"It's pretty simple and straight what he says. He has a good knowledge of the game and it's all good points to where we want to be," the former Leeds front man said.

"He's certainly got everyone listening and pointing in the right direction, and I think that's shown in the results we've had for him, and long may that continue. I'm pretty sure now we can push for the top six.

"You look at the three away games we've had, which was Leicester, Watford and Charlton - there are probably no three tougher games all season away from home, and to take nine points is very pleasing and has obviously given us a big lift to go on now for the rest of the season."

But Blake knows there is one hurdle that still needs to be cleared.

"We just need to win our home games now and if we can do that it's not a case of maybe, we're definitely going to be in the top six," he said.

"What we've done is started badly in a few home games and got behind and had to claw our way back, which we have done to be fair.

"I think we've only lost two games and drawn four, but it's a bit frustrating because normally in the last couple of seasons it's always been the home form that's stood us in good stead.

"It's just one of those things. We've got enough time to sort it out and hopefully if we can win our next few home games that form will obviously look a bit more rosy.

"We've only played Stoke at home under the new gaffer, and I think that was probably the best we've played at home all season, so tonight will be the second game and there are a couple more coming up with QPR and Preston.

"Preston will be a nice one so we've just got to have that confidence going into the home games.

"Wth the same confidence that we got from Watford and Charlton I'm pretty sure we'll pick up the points."