12:00pm Saturday 13th March 2010
By Suzanne Geldard
‘START as you mean to go on’ is the resounding message from Brian Laws, after the Burnley boss had to prompt a second-half fightback against Stoke City in midweek.
He doesn’t want to have to issue stern words again for this afternoon’s visit of Wolves.
The incentive of climbing out of the relegation zone, he feels, should more than suffice.
“Every game is a big game. Enormous. Cup final, call it whatever you like, they are massive games. You can’t get away from it or hide from it. This is a huge game for us because there’s a lot riding on it and everyone knows what the reward is,” said Laws.
“We jump out of the bottom three. That’s what’s at stake.
“We are chasing Wolves. We want to catch them and overtake them.”
Should the Clarets succeed it will be their first win since the beginning of December, their second in 19 in the league and the first time they have not occupied the drop zone for more than four weeks.
Given Wolves’ proximity to the Clarets in the league table, this Turf Moor meeting has to be seen more as a ‘must-win’.
“Both teams have different objectives,” said Laws. “It’s a big game for both of us, and I expect it to be a real tough one.
“Mick McCarthy’s teams are very effective, work extremely hard, they’ve got pace in their side, they’ll play football, they’ll be hard to break down.
“On the other side, Wolves will be coming here to make sure they don’t get beat because they know the consequences.
“Each time you gain a point or get something out of a game it’s a positive.”
But Laws has warned that their task will be almost impossible if there is a repeat of the first 45 minutes against Stoke, which led to them trailing 1-0 at the break.
“Both teams in the first half were stuck in a timewarp of head tennis. I couldn’t wait to get in at half time and try to stop it,” said Laws.
“I wouldn’t have thought it was the riot act, it was just a case of instilling some composure in the players.
“There were one or two who needed a bit of a rollicking but I thought their responses were magnificent.
“The one thing I want them to do is do the things that they’re good at.
“When we get the ball down and play we’re effective, we can create, we can ask questions of the opposition. But if we go down a route like we did in the first half, we’re not going to pose as many questions.
“I asked them if they believed they were good enough to stay in the Premier League?
“If they did, then show it now by being composed, wanting the ball and playing with a smile on your face, and I thought they responded magnificently.”
Laws was particularly impressed with the reaction of Kevin McDonald, who came on at half time after being dropped for the first time in seven games.
“You don’t leave players out for reasons that you don’t like them, you’re making decisions on the team and what team you think is best for that particular game,” he said.
“If someone’s left out you want a response, and the response is when you get out on the park again you show real positivity on the pitch, and I thought he did that. I thought he was excellent.”
Steven Thompson’s display in his first ever Premier League start has also given Laws food for thought among his front men.
“I knew I would get a response from him because he’s been waiting for so long. I couldn’t believe it was his first start in the Premier League,” he said.
“When I told Thommo he was starting he was almost surprised, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if you work hard.”
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