Division Two: Burnley v Millwall - Pete Oliver's big match preview

IT'S far too premature to be talking in cliched terms of six-pointers and make-or-break matches.

But even at this early stage of the campaign, Millwall's visit to Turf Moor tonight is a big game for the Clarets.

Three straight League defeats coupled with other results yesterday mean Burnley start tonight in 21st place in the table.

A defeat with two tough away games to come at Luton and Reading could therefore leave Stan Ternent's men well off the pace.

On the other hand, victory could lift Burnley up to 12th and give them the platform to put a difficult start behind them.

The importance of the situation isn't lost on new signing Peter Swan who will make his home 'debut' tonight after returning to the claret and blue colours in Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Walsall.

"It's up to us. We have to get back to it or it's going to be a long season.

"We know we have got the ability and the players around us to get out of the problems but it's just not happening at the moment and we have got to keep working at it," he said.

"We have to get things right. There's a long way to go before we do get things right but we will.

"We have got the right players here, it's just getting the confident players, the ball players to play with it when they can in the right areas. It's just a matter of time."

Swan was signed by Ternent to help shore up a suspect defence and his physical presence should be a bonus against a Millwall side that has not been prolific with just three League goals so far, but which has tasted defeat just once in the Second Division. There were signs at Walsall on Saturday that Ternent's side is starting to gel after several changes in personnel, both forced and by design.

The Clarets should have taken a point but despite the disappointment of a defeat brought about by two late goals, Swan took some encouragement from the performance.

"We have not started the season well and we have had our problems but we came to Walsall and showed we can play.

"With the chances we created if we put three or four away it would have been a different result altogether but we haven't so we have to get back to it now and sort it out for tonight.

"It's all down to us. We are on the field," added the 31-year-old centre-back who is forging a defensive partnership with Chris Brass following the captain's switch to his favoured position.

"It's an important game for us now," admitted Burnley's second home debutant, left-back Gordon Armstrong.

The free signing from Bury was unfortunate to finish on the losing side at Walsall after settling in quickly and marking his first appearance with a headed goal. His last outing at Turf Moor coincided with another goal and a thumping win - although he was wearing Bury's colours at the time a fortnight ago.

He would no doubt love a repeat against the Lions on an eagerly-awaited first home outing.

"Everybody is coming down from the North-East so it will be a nice night for us," he added.

It certainly will be if Burnley win.

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