Clarets striker cheered by getting back on the goal trail (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Clarets striker cheered by getting back on the goal trail

7:54am Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter

CHARLIE Austin declared his 25th goal of the season the best and said: “I needed that!”

The Clarets top scorer inspired Burnley to their first win in seven games with his first goal in five – a stunning right foot rocket, which proved enough to beat Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

Burnley had to withstand a barrage of pressure in the second half, with the Addicks desperate to avoid a fourth straight home defeat.

And Austin felt the Clarets showed both sides of their game to good effect.

“We put in a good performance in the first half and our backs were against the wall in the second half but we defended really well. We showed what we can do,” said the striker.

“We defended really well with Shacks (Jason Shackell), Kevin (Long), Tripps (Kieran Trippier) and Laffers (Danny Lafferty) – the whole team really was together in that.

“We all came together at the end. We knew we had to defend and it was a big result.

“It was a bonus for me to score and I was happy with it, but obviously it’s all about the team and we got the three points and it was what we needed.”

Burnley were dominant in the first half and should have gone ahead when Junior Stanislas slipped Martin Paterson in to score, only for the flag to go up for a debatable offside.

The breakthrough came in the 43rd minute, courtesy of Austin’s unstoppable 25 yard right foot strike.

“I’m a confident lad. I was a long way out but I thought, I’m just going to hit this and it opened up nicely. Luckily enough the next minute it was in the top corner,” he said.

“I needed it on a personal note.

“I had a good run at the start. It stopped but hopefully now I’m just kicking on and I can push on til the end of the season.

“If I keep scoring it helps the team, and that’s the main thing.

“It was important for the lads and we got the win. The three points was massive.”

Austin’s first-half effort took his tally for the season to 25, with 22 in the Championship.

“It’s the most I’ve scored in a season and hopefully I can push on and score many more to the end of the season. As long as I keep scoring it helps the lads and we can win,” said the 23-year-old, who felt his winner at The Valley was the best so far.

“It’s the best this season and I’d say one of the best in my career to be honest,” he added.

“I don’t score many outside the box.”

Austin insists the Clarets now owe it to the Turf Moor faithful to build on Saturday’s win with the visit of Barnsley tomorrow night, after slipping to a disappointing defeat against struggling Huddersfield in their last home game.

“Barnsley’s not going to be an easy game but we under-performed last Tuesday against Huddersfield and we know we’ve got to put that right,” said the marksman, who admitted the players were angered by their midweek performance.

“We were, because we knew we can perform better.

“That’s football, it’s one of those things, but hopefully we can go again after Saturday.

“There’s a fine line between winning and losing.

“But we bounced back in the week through training and then put in a performance like we did on Saturday and we’re all happy with the win.

“Hopefully we can go again tomorrow and get another three points.”