BRIAN Jensen has called for Burnley fans to be their 12th man as they bid to end their derby drought.
The Clarets have not beaten Blackburn Rovers for more than three decades, but more pressingly find themselves in the bottom three after picking up just four points from the last 11 games.
Goalkeeper Jensen knows Blackburn fans will be desperate to see their side pile more relegation misery on Brian Laws’ men tomorrow (kick-off 12 noon).
But the 34-year-old has urged Burnley to not to give them the satisfaction, and use that as an added incentive to add bragging rights to three precious Premier League points.
“They will want us to go down, and at the end of the day they’re going to do their very best to make us cock-up,” said Jensen.
“That’s where we need our fans, and we’ll have a lot more behind us than they do.
“They need to get behind us and help us out, and we need all of them.”
A section of supporters booed Laws’ decision to substitute Chris Eagles in the last home game - a 2-1 defeat to Wolves.
But Jensen stressed they needed everyone onside tomorrow, although he is confident supporters won’t need any extra encouragement to be vocal on derby day.
“This game is going to look after itself,” said the Dane.
“They need to get behind us and help us out because we need all of them. It will be more hostile than it was at Ewood. It is more compact and our fans are passionate in a different way. We won't be able to hear each other talk, that is for sure.
“We know we have got to be tough and we know there will be loads of fans backing us up. But we need them all the way through, not just for the Blackburn game.”
Emotions are running high as the derby coincides with a dramatic climax to Burnley’s season, but Jensen is determined to keep a lid on them tomorrow.
“I don't treat it as a local derby. I know it is but I just treat it as any other game that we want to win,” said the long-serving stopper, who is set to play in his fourth East Lancashire clash.
“Personally, that has helped me through all the derby games I have played in. You want to do your best in every single game you play. If you focus too much on it being a derby game, you are going to brick yourself.
“I have been involved in a few and that is how I have done it all my career.
“You get the tension, don't get me wrong - the sweaty palms just before the game - but if you are going to build it up and be really nervous, there is no point.
“Of course, there’s a lot at stake and we all know that.
“The tension is there but I am still trying to focus on the game, my own performance and the team’s performance rather than who we are playing. It’s ourselves we have to look at, not them.”
Preparations for this home game will be different from the others, with the squad staying overnight in a hotel out of town tonight before and arriving at Turf Moor together on the team bus tomorrow morning.
And under health and safety guidelines players have also been advised that no cars will be allowed to leave the carparks until an hour after the game.
But Jensen is desperate to avenge a 3-2 defeat at Ewood Park in October, and is determined to let nothing take his eye off the ball.
“That is not my problem,” he said.
“I know it will be different but I am trying not to think about it. If I get caught up with it the same as everybody else, it does not work for me. What works for me is focusing on the game and treating it as a normal one. It’s not because of a lack of passion or anything - I love to play these games - but at the end of the day it’s three points we are playing for.
“Everybody knows it wasn’t the best of games for us last time. We have to do better this time.”
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