IT'S all getting a bit “Groundhog Day” away from Turf Moor, isn’t it?

You know the drill: Burnley acquit themselves well going forward, Burnley switch off defensively and give the opposition goals, Burnley come home with nul points.

But the latest variation on this theme was the most dispiriting yet.

Portsmouth have spent all season lurching from one crisis to another; different owners, unpaid players, a transfer embargo, a change of manager … clearly, all is not ship-shape on the south coast.

With one home win in the previous seven attempts and having conceded four goals to Aston Villa in last week’s Carling Cup exit, hopes were high that Fratton Park could be the venue where Burnley scored their first away win and got the monkey off their backs. If not there, ran the logic, then where?

So much for logic. The monkey remains firmly attached. In fact, it’s beginning to look more like an alpha male silverback gorilla.

A tale of missed chances at one end and sloppy defending at the other, here was an encapsulation of why the Clarets have one point from 24 on their travels.

But whilst Burnley have at least begun to carry a goal threat on the road of late, they have yet to find a way of eliminating those costly defensive errors.

Twenty-seven goals against in eight outings would suggest the current personnel are struggling. But where to turn?

Michael Duff is clearly not fancied. Of the new arrivals, Messrs Eckersley, Easton and Edgar are kicking their heels.

One assumes Owen Coyle brought them to the club because they had something to offer.

One argument says it would be unwise to throw them in now.

But if they can’t get a knock in a team which ships an average of three each time they venture away from home, then when will they get a chance?

The other option is to do some business in January, although attracting proven defenders may prove a difficult and expensive business.

But between now and then, there are five games to be played.

And whilst no one month will define Burnley’s season, with three of those fixtures against teams currently in the bottom six, December may prove pivotal in shaping our season.