IT'S crunch time! The defeat at Cardiff saw Burnley slip to 12th - four points from third place, four points from fourth bottom.

So the outcome of the next three games, two of which are at home, is crucial.

A maximum nine points would be great, but I'd settle get seven points from those outings, starting with a draw at Barnsley tomorrow.

Burnley need to start winning again, but if a point could be followed up with back to back home wins against Norwich on Tuesday then Southampton on Satuday I'd be happy.

Home form is key, and you take whatever you can away.

But there is no reason why we can't kick-off after the international break against Barnsley with a win.

History isn't on our side at Oakwell, but that will count for nothing tomorrow.

It's a crucial time for which direction the Clarets move in the Championship table and if we're going to make any progress we need to start winning and start moving upwards.

It's possible Steve Cotterill could line them up with a similar 4-5-1 formation at Barnsley like he did at Cardiff.

People talk about formations and systems but they mean nothing really. It's the players on the pitch that make the systems work or fail.

Kyle Lafferty and Graham Alexander will return to the camp with very mixed emotions after their stint on international duty.

Alexander will be disappointed that Scotland couldn't do more to ease the tension going into their last Euro 2008 qualifier, now must-win game against Italy.

Lafferty, on the other hand, will be buoyed by his excellent equaliser against Sweden to keep Northern Ireland in with an outside chance of making it to the tournament in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

Burnley can tap into his euphoria at club level, although away from home I can't see an Andy Gray and Lafferty strike partnership.

That's more likely to occur at Turf Moor if it happens, with Robbie Blake tucked in behind them to accommodate the three.