Scott Parker outlines biggest learning from Burnley's gruelling early fixture list

Under Vincent Kompany two years ago, the Clarets took just one point from their first six games, having suffered heavy defeats to the likes of Man City, Aston Villa and Tottenham. There was also a narrow loss to Man Utd.

While Scott Parker’s Burnley have been far more competitive this time around, they’ve still been left empty-handed in their games against Tottenham, Man Utd, Liverpool and Man City.

This weekend’s trip to Aston Villa is far from easy, but Burnley’s schedule does – on paper at least – look a little kinder in the forthcoming weeks, with fixtures coming up against the likes of Leeds United, Wolves and West Ham.

If Burnley are able to replicate the character they’ve shown so far this season, Parker is confident his side will begin to add more points.

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He said: “We will probably highlight our performances in the fixtures we’re coming out of and if we can recreate that endeavour, that character and that quality, it will give us an incredible foothold, an incredible chance to get results.

“There’s no easy games in the Premier League. But the biggest thing for me, my biggest learning over the last few weeks is that these little jabs we’re having, they don’t detract from what we need to be or what we’re going to need to do.

“We can fail, for sure. At the end of this season, that may be the case. We can lose football matches like we’ve lost today, but there’s one thing you need to hold onto and that’s a togetherness, an understanding, real rational thinking and a constant belief and you stand up to these challenges. I know I’ve got a group here that will do that.”

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