Goals will flow again, insists Payton

The Clarets' top-scorer made his return from a three-match ban via the bench as Burnley slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against Luton Town last night - the first time they have lost back-to-back games this season.

It was also the third home game running that Stan Ternent's men have drawn a blank.

But they created a host of chances on one of those nights when nothing would go right in the box and Payton believes that between himself, Ian Wright and Andy Cooke there are goals to come.

"Definitely. If we had got one I think we would have got four or five," he said.

"We've got to stick together, get on with it and turn it round, and I'm sure we will.

"We've just got to get our heads up and start stringing some results together again. There's a long way to go yet."

Ternent now has competition for places up front and Payton accepted having to ease his way back into the frame.

"There is competition at every big club and Burnley's a big club. I hadn't played for three weeks and obviously lost a bit of sharpness.

"Of course there's competition. Wrighty's played 40-odd games for England so I've no complaints," he said.

But he was pleased to stake a claim for a place in the starting line-up at Wrexham on Saturday with a half-hour appearance. "It was nice to be back and it was just unfortunate that we didn't win.

"You lose a bit of sharpness so it was nice to get a bit of a run-out and get a bit of fitness back because it's the only place you can get fitness, on the pitch," he said.

Burnley's defeat keeps them in fifth place as promotion rivals Preston, Millwall and Gillingham all slipped up at home as well.

Cementing their top-six place will now be the Clarets' first priority but with the gap behind the top two remaining at eight points there will be no giving up the chase with just over a quarter of the season still to go.

Ternent said: "When we started the season if we had been there we would have been happy. But we've done so well we are looking for an automatic promotion.

"Maybe we are being a little ambitious, but I don't think so.

"And at this time of year the nearer you get towards the finishing line, the more difficult it is and the league will throw up some funny results, I'm sure.

"So we've got to stay in there and keep playing away. I'm still confident that we can bounce back from this.

"And while there are enough points at stake I think we've got a chance."

However, the boss couldn't hide his frustration at seeing three points slip away for the second game running.

"There's no getting away from it because this has been an extremely disappointing three days," he added.

"I keep saying it's how we bounce back from it and sooner or later we will. "And there's nothing to stop us going on a run again and getting up there.

"Out of adversity sometimes some good can come so we've still got to believe.

"There's not really a lot I can say other than that it was an extremely disappointing evening, points-wise, because we were desperate to get them, and I felt that showed at times in our play.

"But nevertheless I have every confidence in the players and I'm sure they'll bounce back."

Bristol Rovers stole a march at the top of the table as they beat Wycombe 1-0 to stretch their lead to four points over Preston, who were rocked by a 3-2 home defeat to Colchester.

Millwall were similarly stunned by losing 2-1 to Scunthorpe at the New Den and Gillingham were beaten at home by Notts County.

Wigan were therefore the other major winners on the night as they thumped Blackpool 5-1 to go four points clear of the Clarets in fourth.

Burnley's reserves scheduled Pontin's League Cup clash against Lincoln City reserves was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

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