FRUSTRATED boss Owen Coyle says Burnley must defend better collectively if they are to banish their away curse.

The Clarets’ 5-0 defeat at Spurs was their fourth loss in a row on their travels. Fourteen goals have been conceded in total away from Turf Moor, with none yet scored in return.

Although Steven Fletcher had a goal wrongly chalked off for offside, which would have made it 1-1, and Robbie Blake hit a post at 2-0, Coyle highlighted unforced errors as their biggest downfall at White Hart Lane as the search for their first away point stretches into next month’s hotly-anticipated derby with Blackburn Rovers.

“I would hope it’s a great learning curve for the players, that when they play against these international, world class players if you give them an inch they’re going to punish you,” said Coyle.

“We’ve shown when everyone’s doing their job we can win points against these teams.

“Not enough of us did it and we’re left then on the end of a scoreline that, as much as Tottenham deserved to win, it certainly flattered them.”

Of Fletcher’s disallowed goal, he added: “We’re a small club in the Premier League and these decisions seem to go badly against us. It was a big turning point in the game.

“I’m not saying at 1-1 Tottenham wouldn’t have gone on to win the game, but it gives you an opportunity and a platform.

“We might still have lost the game because of their quality, but these are big, big moments.

“Even at 2-0, Stephen Jordan’s been tripped running into his own box, he’s then picked himself up to try to affect the play and he’s the one the ball’s deflected off and all of a sudden you’re 2-0 down at Tottenham Hotspur and we know how difficult a task that is to begin with.

“It might have been accidental, but the bottom line is it’s affected the goal because my player’s out of the game.”

In the end, four-goal Robbie Keane exposed the Clarets, but manager Coyle reiterated his determination to stick with the attack-minded policy he has taken to Stoke, Chelsea, Liverpool and now Spurs.

“We know we can win points. I won’t change the way I play because if those decisions go in our favour we’re well in the game,” said the Scot, who gave David Nugent his first start in the absence of the injured Martin Paterson.

“It’s not enjoyable. We’re obviously hurt by the scoreline because it certainly flattered Tottenham on the day. I can’t say they didn’t deserve to win - they probably did, but certainly not by that scoreline.

“We offered a lot to the game, so we have got continue in that belief, which we will do.

“We could easily have sat 10 men behind the ball and lost 3-0 and offered nothing to the game. But we came here with a determination to try to win the game. I believe home or away I’ve got an obligation to try to win matches.

“Our fans were magnificent again. They’ve worked hard all week to earn good money to come here and support the team. Are they coming to see 10 men behind the ball and offer nothing to try to win a game.

“I can’t say they’ll enjoy losing 5-0; they’ll be in the same mind as myself.

“But if we hadn’t committed anybody forward, hadn’t tried to have a shot at Cudicini and create chances they’re going to wonder what we offered to the game.

“It wasn’t about systems, we’ve lost bad goals through bad errors, and we weren’t clinical at the other end.

“I don’t like losing games so we’ll continue to address where we think problems are but still want to get the ball down and play it.”