THERE are certain phrases that keep cropping up when you're in a relegation scrap. "Must-win game" is one of them. "Six-pointer" is another.

The Clarets are not yet at the stage where only a win will do, but victory over Luton Town on Saturday will do much to ease the nerves and help steady what has become a rapidly sinking ship in recent weeks.

Something which would aid Burnley greatly in their attempt to pull away from the bottom three is a vibrant, passionate and vocally aggressive Turf Moor. Sadly, there is about as much chance of that as there is of a Burnley striker notching a hat-trick.

Since the Turf became all-seater, intimidating atmospheres have largely become a thing of the past. Nowadays, only three things are guaranteed to generate a raucous noise; blatantly bad refereeing decisions in favour of the opposition, the visit of a Premiership team in a cup game, or that lot up the road rolling into town.

There is, of course, another way to engender some good old-fasioned noise - fill up the stadium.

Of course, given the Clarets' parlous position in the Championship, coupled with the fact that they are playing less than scintillating football, this is never going to happen - at least not while the paying punter has to shell out around £20 for the privilege.

It is here that Burnley might learn something from their neighbours in Accrington. In a spot of bother of their own in League Two, Stanley allowed all punters into the stadium free of charge for their vital game against fellow-strugglers Torquay United. Result? A crowd of 4,000 and a vital, morale-boosting 1-0 win for the home side.

It is probably too late for the Burnley board to sanction a similar move for Saturday's game, but they could do worse than consider such an option for the visits of Norwich or Plymouth.

Both games take place on a Tuesday night. Neither game is likely to attract a crowd much in excess of 10,000. And given that Burnley have yet to play Leeds United, Cardiff, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City and Sunderland, both games are likely to have been targeted as opportunities to take maximum points.

True, such a move would not guarantee victory, but a fuller than usual Turf Moor would only be a positive. And let's be completely honest here - the Clarets need all the help they can get right now .