Big boost for Pato

STRIKER Martin Paterson’s brace was almost forgotten in the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Norwich.

But boss Brian Laws hopes his first two goals of the season will give the pacy frontman a major boost at a crucial stage of the campaign.

Paterson was handed his first league start in 10 games at Carrow Road, in place of eight-goal top scorer Chris Iwelumo.

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And he responded with two first half strikes to put the Clarets in a commanding position at half-time.

Norwich staged a late comeback to deny Burnley their first away win of the season, but Laws said: “I’m talking about negativity when I should really be talking about positivity.

“That’s what’s really disappointing to me, because I should be saying ‘fantastic!’

“It’s great for Pato.

“What a difference.

“He’s deserved his two goals.

“We changed the team and he put in a performance that justified my reasons for doing it, yet he’s angry with himself. I don’t know why.

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“It’s disappointing because we should be patting him on the back because he’s won us the game, but that’s not the case.

“It’s a funny feeling.

“I should really be talking positively about Pato and giving him some credit.”

Paterson started the season on the right of a front three, but lost his place after the win over Preston.

He started in his preferred central striking role in the Carling Cup tie at Aston Villa, where he proved a real handful for the Villa defence.

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However, he was back on the bench for the trip to QPR last Saturday, before getting the nod at Norwich.

And Laws explained the thinking behind the change - a popular one with the supporters: “I just thought we could stretch them on a fantastic footballing pitch and play them at their own game.

“They do play good football, we’ve seen that many times, but I thought we could stretch them down the sides.

“I thought Pato would be made for it, and he showed that in the first half

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“That will give him a huge lift, and it gives me a lift knowing that I can change things dramatically if necessary.”

Paterson was taken off with nine minutes to play, with Burnley hanging on to a 2-1 lead, and Laws admitted: “He tired and was fatigued in that last 20 minutes, that’s why I changed it.

“He threw everything at it.”

Paterson had struggled in the week with the sickness bug which hit the squad ahead of the trip to QPR, but recovered sufficiently to start, and will be avalable tonight to face Doncaster Rovers at Turf Moor.

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