CHRIS McCann has stressed the importance of breaking Burnley’s Turf Moor duck tonight after insisting that the Clarets must start to feel ‘untouchable’ at home once more.

Burnley have traditionally been strong at home but are yet to win a league game at Turf Moor this season ahead of tonight’s match against Steve McClaren’s Nottingham Forest, even though they have secured three victories in the Carling Cup.

The Clarets came close to breaking that Championship duck on Saturday when a late Southampton equaliser meant an encouraging performance ended in only a 1-1 draw at home to the league leaders, and McCann believes one win would bring Burnley’s home form flooding back.

The skipper was part of the Clarets side that had the third best home record in the Championship during their promotion season three years ago, also claiming Turf Moor victories over Premier League sides Fulham, Arsenal and Tottenham in the Carling Cup.

“I think we went into our home games believing that we were basically untouchable sometimes when we went on to that field at Turf,” McCann recalled of that season. “Teams couldn’t come near us. That showed in the Carling Cup as well, there was no fear in us, we were just going out there full of confidence to play well.

“I think after Saturday’s performance that’s probably starting to creep in a little bit now so hopefully we can show it again.

“Once we get the first win under our belt it will lift the thing off our back.

“Three points at home will be very welcome and can kick us on up the league and really kick-start our season.

“It’s vital the home form, you can say that in any division. Your home form is crucial to how you’re going to do.

“But after a good performance on Saturday we’ll roll on into this game full of confidence, and if we can put on another show we’ll get all three points without question.

“The fans were immense and if they can get behind the lads like that it does encourage us.

“We’re a young squad so the more positives they can give us, you do feel it on the pitch when the crowd’s up for it and the stadium’s rocking.

“It’s just trying to get that first win at home and once that comes the floodgates will open. I think we’ll be very difficult to beat at home this season.

“In the promotion season we were very difficult to beat and I think we’re starting to come together more as a team.

“We can’t keep using that as an excuse but we are coming together as a team better in every game.”

McCann was named as the club’s new captain during the summer and feels his form is improving after knee problems wiped out almost all of his last two seasons.

“I still feel there’s another gear to come,” said the 24-year-old.

“Saturday was probably my best game of the season so far, so I feel it’s starting to come back to where I want to be now. Hopefully I can keep that level of performance up.

“I had the back end of last season and a full pre-season, but it’s just getting back into the routine and the rigours of week in, week out football, Saturday-Tuesday football, which I didn’t have for a long time.

“Maybe I’ve found it a little bit difficult going at the start but I feel like I’m coming back into it a bit more now.

“I don’t think the captaincy has really been a burden to me at all.

“You have to grow into a role, after being thrust into the spotlight you can’t expect people all of a sudden to flick a switch. It takes time and hopefully I’m starting to mature a bit more.

“I’m just trying to do the best I can.”