AFTER a disappointing display against Rotherham in midweek Stan Ternent is backing his players to step up their push for promotion as he pledged: "Sooner or later Burnley will be promoted.

"We are back in the top half dozen and we now have two home games so we have to try and kick on from here.

"My players are mentally tough enough for the promotion battle. You have to be mentally tough to play at Burnley because I am hard to please.

"We have to cope with injuries, suspensions and loss of form but we will."

The games against Nottingham Forest tomorrow and Bradford City next Tuesday offer Ternent's men the chance to put pressure on the teams above them and after a poor run he is confident that they have turned the corner.

"Without playing as well as we can we have taken five points from nine in three away games," he said. "We did well at Watford, played very well at Barnsley but were very poor at Rotherham.

"I wasn't best pleased with that performance but taking everything into a consideration it was a good point and I do feel as though we have turned the corner.

"I have always said it is important to keep picking up points to stay up there. We have been in the top six all season bar one or two weeks and we want to stay there."

After two successive defeats at Turf Moor, Ternent is determined to improve things for the eight home games that are left. New £1million signing Robbie Blake is again unlikely to be used from the start as he continues to work towards full fitness.

"Robbie is not as close as I would like him to be but it has been difficult to step up his training with so many big matches," said Ternent. "He is getting there but needs to get match fit, eventually that will come.

"With Robbie here we have got good competition for places up front but Gareth Taylor and Ian Moore have already done well for us this season.

"But there is nothing better than someone trying to get your shirt off you to make you play well."

With four of the next five games at home Ternent is calling on the Turf Moor faithful to become the club's 12th man on the field.

"The fans are fantastic and I respect their opinion," he said. "In our last home game we were well beaten by West Brom but they didn't have a go and start booing.

"We have got to fire them because we have been going through a sticky patch but they are a big part of our team.

"If they go for us it is like having an extra man, if they are against us it is like being a man down.

"Some decisions I make may not be popular but the club has made progress."

Three points tomorrow would ensure that progress will continue and avoid a third straight home defeat. The last time the Clarets had a run of four home games and one away was in November when they collected 13 points from a possible 15.

A similar return over the next few weeks would make Ternent a very happy man.