Burnley wideman Wallace sets goal target

Wallace, one of Burnley’s most consistent performers so far this season, has five to his name this campaign, after scoring in the last three league games.

The former Celtic and Sunderland man netted three in 43 appearances last term after arriving from Preston North End, but has almost doubled that tally in only 18 games in his second season.

Seven is his best haul, in 2009/10 for North End - with the assists column normally where the Scotland international features, having a hand in 14 goals the previous season as the Lillywhites reached the play-offs.

Only Michael Kightly and Stephen Hunt achieved more, and he has three direct assists already this year to add to his goals.

And Wallace said: “From a personal point of view it’s going quite well, I’ve scored a few goals recently and I’d like to keep that up.

“I’ve always said I’d like to get in double figures for the season and hopefully I can manage that this season.

“If I keep playing all the games and get enough chances to get in there, fingers crossed I can reach that.

“I’m usually around six or seven, but I think I should be getting double figures.

“I’ve always wanted that, and I think I’ll get chance if I play all the games.

“Usually I do well with assists, but this season it seems to be going in the opposite direction.

“Hopefully I can get both - get assists and chip in with a few goals, that’s what I get paid to do.”

Wallace popped up off the front to equaliser in the win at Coventry, before a searing strike against Blackpool, and his effort on Tuesday against Leicester was a rare header: “I’m getting a variety of goals, although I don’t think you’ll ever see me score with my right!

“I’ve had a couple with my head, but I’m scoring goals and enjoying it.

“I’m enjoying my football as much as I ever have, every footballer wants to play every week, and at the moment I am, so that’s the most important thing for me.

“Having belief from the manager is great as well, and that combination makes you happy.”

Wallace particularly enjoyed his free kick against the Seasiders as a former Preston player - having scored a similar effort in his North End days in the West Lancashire derby.

Sky’s cameras picked up a spat with Andre Amougou, with Wallace using some colourful language to shrug him off the ball, and he smiled: “The Blackpool goal is the favourite, it was a massive game for us, and confidence-wise as well, it gave us a wee boost.

“Maybe that game took it out of us for the Leicester game.

“But derby games are good to win - first half we blew them away, and sat in second half and ground out the result.

“I used to work on free kicks a lot at Preston, but what it comes down to is if you fancy it in the game, and Andre was never getting the ball off me!

“The last thing you need is a big dopey centre half trying to take the ball off you!

“He was silly trying to do that, but we’re friends though.

“He gave me a kick up the backside, but he’s a big friendly giant.

“He’s a nice guy, but I think he knew deep down he wasn’t getting that free kick.”

The last Burnley player to score in three successive league games was Martin Paterson three years ago - and the last one to go one better was Garreth O’Connor just after his arrival from Bournemouth in 2005.

Wallace would love to extend his run tomorrow at Bristol City, but expects a tough game at a club who have picked up four points from two testing away games since the arrival of boss Derek McInnes: “It could be a harder game than playing someone at the top of the league in many ways, they’re fighting for their lives, to try and climb the table.

“But we want to get back to winning ways, and away from home we seem to be doing alright, so it will be a good game, but we are capable of getting the right result.

“We want to go into the break confident coming back for the next game, so hopefully we can, and we’ll be giving 100% to make sure we get the right result.”