BURNLEY’S unbreakable bond has left Wade Elliott believing no challenge is insurmountable for the Clarets.

And the 30-year-old believes it will be their biggest strength as the fight for the play-offs hots up.

A pre-match routine of a hug and huddle has become as much second nature as it has ritual for this group of players, although he admits they are prone to bickering “like a bunch of old women”.

But Elliott is adamant that getting any issues out in the open makes for a healthy working relationship.

“There’s a really good spirit amongst the lads, and there has to be because we’re stuck on a coach with each other for about 20 hours this week!” he said ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Plymouth, which comp-letes a week of long-distance journeys following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town.

“I think with the amount of time we do spend together, if we didn’t get on that would show and have an adverse effect.

“Thankfully we’ve got a good group of lads and we seem to have a nice mix.

“It sounds a bit contradictory but we argue with each other like cat and dog – we’re like a bunch of old women. But it’s great, everybody says their piece.

“There’s a good healthy relationship between us all where if you think something’s not right you can say your piece, it’s dealt with and there’s no grudges – everybody moves on, which is probably the sign of a genuinely close bunch of lads.”

And Elliott believes their off-field relationship is reflected in the performances on it, as he is among a list of 16 players who have contributed goals this season.

“Martin Paterson’s been our top scorer and Steven Thompson’s chipped in with a really good amount. Everyone else has taken up the mantle at different times and chipped in. It’s been a real collective effort,” said Elliott, who himself has scored two in two.

“Clarke Carlisle’s scored a couple lately as well, and I think that bodes well for us.

“Maybe that sort of typifies what we’ve been about – it’s been a real team ethic all season.

“Young Jay’s come on and chipped in with a couple lately as well. It just seems to be that sort of season where things just seem to be panning out for us, and hopefully that’s a good omen going into what what will hopefully be the last couple of months.”

And after taking his tally for the season to four with Tuesday night’s stunning strike at Ipswich, in a new-look central midfield role, Elliott added: “It’s nice to have grabbed a couple.

“I got four in my first season. It’s probably about time I chipped in with a few more than I have done. I think it helps playing in the middle a little bit.

“Speaking to the gaffer about this briefly the other night, I think since I’ve been here we’ve normally played with someone on the left wing who tends to come in, be it Kyle or Chris or Blakey, so really to give the team a bit of balance I’d try to hold my width and sort of stretch the game a bit for the other winger to play in.

“But since I’ve moved into the middle it gives me opportunities to get in the box and get around the goal a little bit more. Hopefully I can have a bit of an impact.”