SWANSEA manager Brendan Rodgers has challenged his promotion-chasers to lay down an early marker at Turf Moor tomorrow.

Travel sickness has hindered the south Wales club’s hopes of a top two finish.

But having lost at Scunthorpe, Derby and Preston, after conceding the first goal, Rodgers has told his players to boost their automatic promotion chances by getting on the front foot.

“Burnley are going through a difficult run and, when you play teams who are out of form, it’s important to get the first goal,” he said.

“We didn’t start well at Derby or Preston. We gave both those sides something to build on and to protect while we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

“We have to look to get a win at Burnley. There are only five games to go and, while I wouldn’t say it’s a must-win, it’s a can-win game.”

Rodgers added: “We have to go to Burnley and show the steel we have shown for much of the season away from home.

“I’m talking about little details. At the start of the season I felt we lacked aggression away from home and that we were too open.

“That was something we rectified, but those problems have slipped back in a little bit in the last few weeks.

“We have to make sure spaces are closed tomorrow and that we give nothing away.

“We have to make sure we have a solid defensive base, because the framework to play our football comes from that.”