It wasn't just Burnley's blimp that floated off into the wild blue yonder last week.

Following in its wake was much of the optimism and feel-good factor amongst supporters engendered by the Clarets' recent form.

Seven days ago, fans were licking their lips in anticipation of two home fixtures in five days against the 23rd and 24th- placed teams in the Championship.

Hopes were high after three impressive away wins, and Clarke Carlisle was busy telling anyone who'd listen, that someone was due, "a good slapping at Turf Moor."

Well he got that right, but it was unlikely he anticipated his team-mates would be the recipients.

Had Burnley taken six points from QPR and PNE, they would have been three points from the summit.

Instead they are three points and three places from sixth, with their much-prized game in hand wasted and much frustration and disappointment in the air.

Not that anybody should have been too surprised. Not because QPR and PNE are any good - patently they aren't, check the table - but because at home, Burnley play like drains.

Eleven points in as many attempts at the Turf says as much. Only Leicester and QPR have fared worse.

So what's the problem?

Away from home, there is an onus on the opposition to come out and attempt to win on their own patch in front of their own fans.

This suits the Clarets, who will happily take teams on, rather than sit tight and hope to hit on the counter.

The difficulty is not many teams visiting Turf Moor share this philosophy.

QPR, for instance, set out two solid banks of four and showed no ambition. They won due to a moment of criminally bad defending and some top-drawer pantomime from Gabor Kiraly.

Another problem is that with raised expectations, certain sections of the crowd are not slow to register disappointment when the team that so imperiously swept aside Watford, Charlton and Wolves in their own backyards, then conspicuously fails on its own doorstep.

Fair enough; football's an expensive habit, everyone's entitled to express an opinion and frustration will out. But is it helping the players?

More pressing is that with Lafferty injured and McCann and possibly Gudjonsson suspended, Burnley look particularly light in midfield for Ipswich.

Add this to a depleted defence and it's clear the cracks are really starting to show.

The transfer window opens a fortnight tomorrow. If the club are serious about a top six spot, Owen Coyle needs to be allowed to wheel and deal.