Scott Parker accepts that Burnley’s home form – which he admits hasn’t been good enough up to this point – will be key to any survival hopes.
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Scott Parker on James Ward-Prowse and the secret to Burnley's set pieces](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/scott-parker-on-james-ward-prowse-and-the-secret-to-burnleys-set-pieces-5608295 "Scott Parker on James Ward-Prowse and the secret to Burnley's set pieces")
The Clarets can reduce the gap to safety to just five points this weekend with a win against Brentford before Nottingham Forest, the side they’re currently looking to catch, play Brighton on Sunday.
But winning at Turf Moor is something Parker’s side have struggled to do in the league this season, having not done so since beating Leeds United back in October.
With only two league wins to their name this campaign, it’s Burnley’s home form that is holding them back.
But coming into Saturday’s came off the back of a four-point haul from back-to-back away games, Parker concedes it’s now or never for his side if they’re to hold any chance of avoiding the drop.
“We've picked up some really good results or we look like we turned a little bit, but then we've probably come down with a bit of a bump,” he said.
“So we're now at the point in the season where we need to eradicate that as quickly as we can.
Scott Parker speaks to the media before the Premier League fixture against Brentford at Turf Moor. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Scott Parker speaks to the media before the Premier League fixture against Brentford at Turf Moor. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
“When you look at the three promoted clubs, all three have been very similar away from home in terms of the points they've collected. The difference has been home form.
“Our home form has been nowhere near as good and we certainly haven't picked up enough points at home really for many reasons.
“Certainly over the last couple of weeks, we can see that in terms of the stadium, in terms of maybe at times our performances have not been one which has brought that certain atmosphere and intensity.
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“It's going to be pivotal this weekend. It's been pivotal all year and it's something I referenced early on in the season. Our home stadium, it needs to be exactly that.
“While, of course, it is our responsibility, it's the players' responsibility, my responsibility to give our fans that hope and to give our fans that energy that they can see.
“But for sure, we're going to need them as well. So hopefully, after coming off the back of a couple of really good results, I hope the fans come with optimism.
“I hope the fans come with looking at this group over the last few weeks and having an understanding of what they've probably been through and how they've come out of that, that that gravitates a little bit, that we can get right behind us and we can support us, cheer for us and understand how important that is really.
“Human nature at certain moments, it can become difficult for young players and certainly can become difficult for anyone when you're going through a bit of a tough time. So I'm hoping, or maybe I'd like to demand it from them, demand that they come here and let's get behind this team now.
“There's a massive game for us and I said it last time in my press conference that let's bring some others involved into this. We've been chasing this down for some time now. We've been in this position for some time and we've always had our gloves on and we've always been punching away.
“At times, we've not quite got a knockout and at times, we've hit the floor. But there's one thing that we have done is we're always in this. Let's stick together here and let's go and get a result with the weekend, which is the main objective.
“You get a result with the weekend and all of a sudden, everyone notices a different story and others get brought into this.”
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