BRIAN Jensen will always be number one in his mum's eyes, but she believes he's truly at his best when the competition is fierce.

The Danish goalkeeper proved that theory with a clean sheet against Plymouth Argyle on his return to Burnley's starting line-up, which was key in helping the Clarets end a run of seven games without a win and record a first success at Turf Moor since October 23.

Having been assured by Owen Coyle on his managerial appointment in November that each squad member would get their chance, last weekend's visit of the Pilgrims was Jensen's first opportunity to prove himself at first team level as he was preferred to summer signing Gabor Kiraly.

And he didn't disappoint.

"I can't complain. It was a good start to 2008," said the 32-year-old, whose brief run in the side earlier in the season was ended by former boss Steve Cotterill, after his late error led to Blackpool snatching a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor in mid-September.

"The competition has always been there and it's good. I've always been told by my mum that I'm best under pressure, so I just have to work hard and get somebody to put me under pressure.

"The mood certainly changed when the new gaffer came in. It's a new start for everybody.

"A new manager comes in and, of course, he will never change the team to begin with when he first arrives; you've got to start with the same 11 who played the game before and then of course he will have to get his own idea during the season. But you know you will have a chance later on and you've just got to be patient, work hard and see how it goes. And it's been proved - work hard and you'll get your reward."

However, he does not believe he was always given a fair trial in the previous regime, to the extent that he put in a transfer request 12 months ago. Although it was retracted within a matter of weeks and the hatchet was buried, at the time Jensen was bitterly disappointed that Mike Pollitt was handed the gloves straight after being brought in on loan from Wigan Athletic, while Danny Coyne recovered from injury.

"With the old manager it was his decision to do that - he did it and there's nothing you can do about it now," Jensen said.

"The new manager came in and said I will get my chance, and I have."

Now he is looking to play his part in instilling consistency after the positive start under Coyle's watch hit the buffers with back-to-back defeats at QPR and Preston, compounded by a disappointing 3-0 loss at Blackpool on New Year's Day.

But Jensen hopes last weekend's win over Plymouth will be the first of many to allow the Clarets to set their sights on a top six finish.

"We do have a good chance if we can get a bit of a run going with a few wins," he said.

"If we start winning at home that will keep everyone going. We've just got to be more consistent."

The former West Brom stopper is likely to retain his place as Burnley take on Coventry at the Ricoh Arena. And it was in the Midlands that he adopted the Beast' nickname that has stuck with him at Turf Moor.

"The first time it happened at West Brom I thought I was being booed, but since I came to Burnley ... I know it sounds like a boo, but I know what it is," smiled the 6ft 1ins keeper.

"I do know when they boo me!

"But I've always had a good relationship with the fans - they apparently like what they see.

"That's the main thing for me because it gives me a little bit of a boost every time I go out on the pitch that I know they're behind me.

"It's nice to have a personal shout before the game."

As an ex-Baggie, Jensen could find himself the target of boo-boys for real tomorrow, but he's aiming to silence them by standing up to the predatory instincts of Michael Mifsud and Dele Adebola.

"Everybody knows their threats, but at the end of the day we shouldn't really be concerned about that, we should be more concerned about us, because if we play to our standards there's always a chance that we'll hopefully get three points," said Jensen, for whom Coyle is his third Burnley manager after being signed on a free transfer from the Hawthorns by Stan Ternent in the summer of 2003, making him the longest serving current Claret.

And he would love to retain that tag by earning a new contract.

"I've been here nearly five years and I do enjoy it here," he said.

"I'm settled here, my family is settled as well in school and nursery, so we'll see if there are many years to come."