Clarets schemer Paul Cook insists it will take a decent performance from his former club to end Burnley's FA Cup dream at the fourth-round stage.

Cook, who played for Coventry in the Premiership for a full season in 1994/95, accepts that Burnley are underdogs going into Saturday's tie at Highfield Road.

But he believes that an on-song Clarets side is capable of pushing the Sky Blues all the way in their bid to repeat their third-round triumph over Derby County.

Cook said: "That was a great day for Burnley, for the supporters, the manager and everbody connected with the club.

"But people have got to realise Coventry are a good side and without knocking Derby, perhaps a better side than Derby.

"They are expected to beat us but that doesn't stop us from doing our best and if we do play to our best it will take a decent Coventry side to knock us out of the Cup."

And Cook, a key figure in the Burnley line-up who is set for a fascinating midfield contest with Gary McAllister, is unperturbed by a blip in the Clarets' away form over Christmas and the New Year.

He added: "At the end of the day the facts are that we are a Second Division side facing a mid-table Premier League side on a fantastic run. "But we will have great support there and it's a game to genuinely look forward to. And there shouldn't be a fear factor from us. The majority of our players have played at a decent level or against teams from a decent level.

"There's more of a fear factor from playing at home to Rotherham when you're from a different league and expected to win."

Cook chalked up 37 top-flight appearances for City and played alongside current Coventry boss Gordon Strachan, who has continued to impress the Burnley man following his transition to the manager's post.

"He was a very good professional with a very good attitude and great enthusiasm. He's done a brilliant job and they have done brilliantly as a club. They are no longer regarded as perennial relegation strugglers.

"If you look back at the team I was in and the team they have now, they've got nine or 10 full internationals with the two Moroccan lads, Gary McAllister, Carlton Palmer, Robbie Keane, Steve Froggatt and through to Hedman in goal," added the Burnley play-maker who enjoyed his days at Highfield Road.

"It was great to play on all those grounds and against all the top teams home and away. It was a tremendous experience.

"Apart from suspensions I played a full season in the Premiership. But then I had a couple of knee operations and they were just bringing in Gary McAllister and Eoin Jess and spending big money which more or less meant my days were numbered," he said. Coventry, 13th in the Premiership, are set to stick with the side that was held to a 2-2 draw by Chelsea on Tuesday night.

Burnley boss Stan Ternent may make at least one change following Monday's defeat at Notts County, however, with captain Gordon Armstrong now free from suspension although he is nursing a slight foot injury.

Meanwhile, the Clarets picked up a further suspension last night, when Tom Cowan received his fifth booking of the season in helping the reserves to a 1-0 win over Birmingham City at a rain-lashed Turf Moor.

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