BRIAN Laws goes to his old club’s new ground for the first time as an opposition manager tonight.

And he believes it could be as good a time as any to face the much-fancied Middlesbrough.

Gordon Strachan’s side were tipped as the bookies’ favourites to clinch the Championship title before a ball was kicked, after failing to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

But after making a host of big money and big reputation signings, expectations have yet to be fulfilled.

One win, one draw, three defeats and a Carling Cup exit at Millwall have led to discontent on Teesside.

Boro are as far off the top as the Clarets are off the bottom.

Laws, however, is in no doubt it is only a matter of time before Strachan’s stars click into gear. He just hopes tonight isn’t the night.

“It’s a good game for us in many respects,” said the Burnley boss, who played right back for Boro between 1985 and 1988.

“On paper, and quite rightly, Middlesbrough are the favourites.

“But they’ve brought in so many players and at the moment they’ve not hit the ground running, results haven’t gone well for them and it’s going to take a bit of time for them to settle.

“But when they do, they’re going to be a really good, strong side.

“In passages on Saturday at QPR they were the best side up until they conceded.

“The results haven’t gone well for them, and the supporters – like any others – will let them know.

“They’ve got to overcome that.

“We’ve just got to try to make it uncomfortable for them and utilise that, as Preston tried to do with our supporters.

“But our supporters showed great mettle and spirit with our own players, which eventually got us to win the game.

“Can we keep their supporters quiet? Can we get the first goal?

“This is not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination and I think there are going to be some key moments in it. I think THE key moment will be the first goal.”

Burnley scored first in Saturday’s derby but needed a dramatic late comeback to keep their 100 per cent home record intact after trailing rivals Preston 3-1 until the final 10 minutes.

Although Laws was disappointed that Preston had been allowed to gain the upper hand, he praised the character his players demonstrated in turning the game on its head.

“They were angry with themselves because they know they're better.

“Preston got the goals through our breakdown, and their great play in winning the ball.

“They were angry at half-time but we started the second half really well, nice and bright and much more effective.

“Even at 2-1 we were in the ascendancy, we were on top, and they broke away and score the third, which probably would have killed most teams, but the spirit was evident there.

“It was evident at Ipswich away, and at Swansea because they gave everything to try to get the goal that would give us at least a point.”

He added: “It's not how you start, it's how you finish the game that counts.

"There are going to be twists and turns, there are going to be mistakes made, we're not going to have it our own way every game.

"It's how we adjust to it, and I thought we adjusted to the pressures more so than anything else, and that shows you they've got the mental strength to overcome it.”