FOCUSED Burnley manager Steve Cotterill has urged his players to be brave enough to mount a promotion challenge.

The Clarets boss was disappointed not to capitalise on the first of the Clarets' two games in hand when they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke on Tuesday night.

However, being just nine points adrift of the Championship play-offs and with 18 games remaining, Cotterill believes his side still have plenty to play for, providing they can show more mental toughness.

"When a pass goes astray and there are a few moans and groans, that's when you've got to be mentally tough and tough it out," said Cotterill, who felt certain reactions from the crowd had an adverse affect on some players.

"I couldn't quite gauge what the moans and groans were at, whether they were at anybody, or the defeat, or the team or myself.

"What happens when you get a few moans and groans, the players are frightened of accepting the ball.

"I just think we have to bully ourselves into accepting the ball sometimes.

"Jon Harley seizes up sometimes. When a couple of passes go astray and there are a few moans and groans, he seizes up.

"If you've got a wide man pressing you like he had (on Tuesday) then sometimes he doesn't make his pass from A to B, or his pass selection might be wrong because he's under pressure.

"A few of our lads looked a little bit like that."

He added: "While it's good to be tough in physical strength, you've also got to be tough in mental strength.

"That's why the top players play at the top clubs. That's why people like Ryan Giggs stay at Manchester United for as long as he does and plays at the top level because not only is he an athlete but he's mentally tough and he can deal with when he's having a bad time - he comes through it.

"And that's why the players are at the top.

"We've just got to make sure that we work hard, get our heads down, we have a lot to play for, and that's what we intend to do now."

BURNLEY have been linked with Sunderland defender Stephen Caldwell.

The Black Cats' club captain is on the wanted list of a number of Championship clubs, but sources in the North East claim the 26-year-old former Newcastle defender could be on Burnley's wanted list.