BURNLEY cannot afford any more "scandalous" defensive displays if they are going to push for the play-offs, according to keeper Marlon Beresford.

And the man who has let six goals in twice in the past two months added: "We have got to fight for the right to play."

Beresford and the rest of the Burnley team travelled south to Gillingham this afternoon determined there will be no repeat of the debacles against Rotherham and Grimsby tomorrow.

And he admitted they have been talking together in an effort to put right everything that went so badly wrong.

"In my view when we got to 3-0 down we needed to keep it tight and make sure we did not let another one in," he said. "Then if you nick a goal, like we did, you might have a chance but to go on and concede six, it is woeful.

"We managed to keep clean sheets against teams like Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, the supposedly top sides, but then we have conceded a lot of goals against sides like Rotherham, Grimsby and Brighton.

"It is against the supposedly lesser sides that you have to roll up your sleeves and fight for the ball and I just felt last weekend we did not look prepared for the fight.

"We can't afford to do that at Gillingham. We go out to play football in every game but it does not matter who you play against, if you don't work hard you won't win.

"First you have to win the battle, beat the player you are directly up against in that individual battle and you have to take it from there. You have to be ready to earn the right to play."

Beresford, who is halfway through the latest one month deal he has signed at Turf Moor, can't wait for the whistle to blow at 3pm tomorrow as he explained: "The nice thing about football as you can always look ahead to the next game. There is always the chance to put things right.

"We have got to go and put the record straight.

"After the Grimsby game we got together and watched the video of the game and this week we have spoken about what happened last Saturday. We got together on Tuesday and sorted out a few things."

One member of the defence last week who won't be able to put things right is the club skipper Steve Davis and Beresford admitted that he will be greatly missed.

"Steve is a great defender - apart from last Saturday," he added with a smile. "His leadership qualities are second to none and he gives the whole side that. He will be missed."

Whether Beresford will still be at Turf Moor when Davis is fit again in a couple of months remains to be seen as his latest deal runs out after the FA Cup tie at Grimsby Town at the start of January.

"We were not far off a deal but things have gone a bit quiet," he said. "It is not ideal and I am living month to month but hopefully something will be sorted soon."

And Beresford is looking forward to a hectic festive schedule and said: "We are all used to it as footballers. It is busy but it is still better than training."

What he really wants for Christmas is a run of clean sheets so team mates like Glen Little can't shout out: "Stop letting six in Marlon."