Burnley F.C.-Wigan Athletic FC Preview

Mar 18, 2010 - 6:40 PM DANIEL ROSE STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Brian Laws says speculation about his future as Burnley manager has made his squad all the more determined to avoid Premier League relegation.

Burnley face an instant return to the Championship unless they can win many of their eight remaining fixtures, starting with the visit to near-neighbours Wigan on Saturday.

Already in the three relegation places, Burnley have been rocked by a national newspaper report which suggested the club were willing to ditch Laws after eleven games and two and a half months.

Burnley have lost nine of their matches since Laws became the surprise choice of chairman Barry Kilbey to replace Bolton-bound Owen Coyle.

Kilbey issued a statement backing Laws and describing the reports as "ludicrous, irresponsible, damaging and inaccurate."

Laws say he has not been surprised by the suggestion he was piloting a plane on a crash course with relegation but believes it will help galvanise his players.

Laws said: "We can't stop people saying things and football is always full of speculation.

"We are concerned only with staying in the Premier League and not allowing anything to distract us from it.

"You can't get more determined than our players are at the moment but this kind of story in the papers enforces it. We are all determined to show a few people they are wrong."

Burnley's mood was not helped by a home draw with Stoke and then a defeat at Turf Moor by a Wolverhampton team just above them in the table.

Laws said: "After those two results there is a sense of disappointment in the dressing room and the trip to Wigan is the perfect place to put it right."

Wigan are only marginally better off, four points above the drop zone and running out of matches to save themselves.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is aware that this is no ordinary Lancashire derby match.

Martinez is waiting anxiously for news of winger Charles N'Zogbia who limped out of the midweek home defeat by Aston Villa.

Wigan will give another chance in attack to January signing Marcelo Moreno and hope that N'Zogbia is fit enough to retain his place after treatment.

Martinez said: "Every game from now on is massive and every point significant. We deserved something out of the Villa game instead of nothing so it is important we regroup and go forward again."

Wigan defender Titus Bramble admitted to being baffled by his team's inconsistency, losing to the lesser teams and yet two weeks ago beating Liverpool.

"We have to sort ourselves out. We can match the best at times and give away the softest of goals the next.

"What our fans want to know is which Wigan team is going to show up on any given day.

"There is no doubt we have lots of ability but we need to be prepared to battle. There are games against West Ham, Portsmouth, Hull and, of course, Burnley coming up and we need nine or ten points of that."