CHARLIE Austin believes Burnley will go into Sunday’s derby full of confidence after picking up four points from two tough away games.
The Clarets missed out on the chance to leapfrog rivals Blackburn Rovers after being held to a draw at Barnsley in midweek.
But by preceding that point with a win and a clean sheet at high flying Hull City, Austin is adamant it represents a good return going into Sunday’s showdown.
And after getting back on the goal trail with an early header against the Tykes, the top scorer is ready to take on their rivals.
“It’s nice to go into the game full of confidence. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a massive game,” said Austin.
“It’s a nice platform. Hopefully we can put in a good performance against them.
“There is a lot of hype about the game and the players know what we have to do.
“We have to get our heads down and put in a performance like we did against Bolton.”
Austin was on the scoresheet, along with Martin Paterson, in that opening day derby, and scored the only goal of the game against Blackpool last month – the first of the post-Eddie Howe era.
He will be looking to complete a derby hat-trick for him and the Clarets on Sunday.
But the 23-year-old admitted he doesn’t mind who scores, as long as Burnley claim the bragging rights.
“It’s there for somebody – but whoever scores it won’t matter. It can be an own goal, as long as we put in a performance and get a result,” said Austin, whose header against Barnsley was his 21st goal of the season.
“It was nice to get back in the groove. I have been putting in performances but a goal hadn’t come in the three games so it was nice.
“But I am a team player. I will help the lads and I am chuffed to bits whoever scores.
“Deano (Dean Marney) scored on Saturday and it was a good team performance.
“Unfortunately we didn’t get the performance we are capable of (at Barnsley) but it’s another game unbeaten.
“We were on top and scored and then they had a spell and scored from their only real chance of the first half.
“I think if we had got the next goal we would have pushed on but I felt we didn’t really capitalise on the 1-0 lead. But you would take four points away from home.
“We haven’t lost again and it’s onwards and upwards to Sunday.”
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