AS Burnley enter the second half of the season, we deliver the half-term report.

FROM topping the league to the re-signing of fans favourite Ade Akinbiyi - Burnley have certainly captured plenty of headlines this season.

On the playing front, an up and down campaign describes the Clarets Championship 2006/07 assault to date.

Following the New Year's Day abandonment with Stoke, Steve Cotterill's troops head into the new year in 12th position hoping to make a fresh climb back towards the play-offs.

Only in recent weeks have the Clarets been outside the coveted play-off positions, after a cracking start to the season that had several national newspaper pundits choking on their predictions.

The campaign got off to a flier with summer signing Steve Jones blasting a double - including an immediate contender for goal of the season - as QPR were soundly beaten 2-0 at Turf Moor.

"I think I might go home and freeze teletext!" joked manager Cotterill after seeing Burnley head the Championship pile on the opening day.

The worry was that Burnley could struggle on their travels, a problem which saw them glean just three league victories on the road last season.

But any concerns were immediately cast aside as Andy Gray scored the first of his 10 goals to floor Leicester, while a point was gleaned at Sheffield Wednesday.

Gray won the PFA Fans award for the Championship player for November, so it was a real blow to Burnley's progress that the Scotland international broke his foot against Leeds.

Without the former Sunderland striker, the Clarets have failed to register a league win and, as a result, slipped down the table.

It is no coincidence that the club's results have taken a sharp dip without their leading scorer.

But they will look for a far better second half to the season, with Akinbiyi back in the ranks following his £750,000 move on New Year's Day and Gray due for a return to action in around four weeks.

GRADE B.

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