David Edgar to grab his chance at Burnley FC

Patience has been a virtue for the 24-year-old, who has seen his first team opportunities restricted since making his debut for the club in the Carling Cup tie against Hartlepool United.

In fact, Edgar has made just six league starts for the Clarets, against Manchester United and Fulham in the Premier League, and Ipswich Town, Preston North End, Cardiff City and now Crystal Palace in the Championship. Other appearances include another Carling Cup tie away at Morecambe and an FA Cup clash against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

“From a personal perspective it was pleasing to get a start in a holding role, which is somewhere I feel comfortable,” said Edgar. “The gaffer said he wanted me to get on and play a role and he was happiest when I came on (against Burton Albion), and in extra time, so I was pleased to get a start.

“Hopefully I’ve done enough. I’ve worked hard in training and shown the gaffer that I want to stay in the team. You don’t want to be on the losing side when you get in the team, but that’s football. Personally, I thought I did alright.” Slack defending gifted the Eagles a 10th minute lead as an unmarked Jonathan Parr converted on-loan Ryan McGivern’s centre with a ferocious header from close range. It was the Norwegian’s first goal for Dougie Freedman’s side.

The Clarets responded to that set-back with a dominant 20-minute spell. Similarly to last season’s 0-0 stalemate Julian Speroni came out on top as Jay Rodriguez threatened. Burnley’s four-goal hero against Burton Albion rose to meet Kieran Trippier’s pin-point cross, but Speroni denied him well, clawing his header off the line.

Skipper Chris McCann glanced over the bar from a corner, Ross Wallace flashed a free-kick from 20 yards agonisingly wide of the far post and forced Speroni in to another save just moments later from another set-piece, this time from a more central position on the edge of the box.

Wade Elliott was also denied a penalty early in the second half, before Owen Garvan killed the game off with a spot kick following Ben Mee’s late lunge on Sean Scannell.

Edgar, who was given five starts by Paulo Sousa during a loan spell with Swansea City at the end of the 2009/10 campaign, said: “Obviously the result was what we were looking for. The performance we put in, aside from the difficult start and shooting ourselves in the foot a little with the penalty, I thought we played some good football and deserved better.

“It was a sloppy start, a bit slow and pretty hectic, but we got the ball down and started playing after the first goal.

“It was just a shame that it took that first goal to get us going. I think it was definitely a penalty, and a few other decisions didn’t go our way, but that happens, we just had to get on with it.

“We created a few opportunities and Ross went close with a free-kick in the first half, and in the last 15 minutes we had more chances than we’d created all game.

“It’s a difficult one to take, because after we settled down we dominated possession and created chances.”

He added: “You can’t afford to go a goal down in the first 10 minutes, especially away from home, because it puts the momentum behind the crowd.

“We battled away hard, but it just didn’t go our way. We just want to get that first win under our belt. Promotion is still the main aim and we want to win every game and get back in the Premier League.”

Numerous out-goings and a lack of transfer activity bringing personnel in to the Turf Moor ranks has clearly scuppered the Clarets start to the new campaign.

However, Edgar is steering clear of transfer talk and keeping faith in the players that are currently fighting for a shirt.

“It’s something that’s out of our hands,” Edgar said. “We just wanted to get three points and show the gaffer that the team that’s here is good enough. I think we all believe that we’re good enough to challenge in this league. Whatever happens in that regard is out of our hands.

“We’ve got faith in the gaffer and the squad that we’ve got here, so whatever happens outside the football, we’ve just got to get our heads down and get those three points.

“It’s a difficult one, but football’s like that and players come and go. Danny (Fox) did fantastic for us and obviously it’s a shame to lose him, but I thought Brian Easton was excellent when he came in, as he showed last season when he played. We’ve got a good squad and players that can play everywhere.”