CLARETS WILL BE HUNTED
Noel out to keep record
NOEL HUNT is out to stop Burnley beating Reading’s Championship record in his first game in charge today.
The relegation-threatened Royals have the division’s best points tally in a season of 106 – achieved in 2005-06.
A Reading win today will breathe new life into their survival bid and prevent the promoted Clarets from reaching that same figure.
And passionate Hunt, a former striker for the club, is desperate to turn things around after being appointed caretaker when Paul Ince was sacked this week.
The Irishman said: “People say records are there to be broken but we’ll do everything we can to try to stop that happening.
“It’s so important the players know and are aware that it’s our record and it’s one that we are very, very proud of. We want to hang on to it.
“I want us to take the shackles off and get on the ball and play. There are no mistakes in my world, only positive reactions and solutions, so we go out with the best intent to win.
“The nasty side of the game has to be nailed down and focused on.”
Hunt had been in charge of the Under-21s before being asked to lead Reading’s survival bid.
He added: “These players have been through enough and if we dig our way out of it, then it is a massive achievement, one of the best of my career. We will work towards playing front-foot football to give us the best chance of getting points and putting ourselves in a position to be safe.
“I want us to try to play with no fear, get on the ball and do things right.”
Burnley confirmed their return to the Premier League on Good Friday but still have not claimed the title and manager Vincent Kompany wants his players to keep their focus on finishing strongly and not letting themselves down.
He said: “I think because we still have to win the title officially, that still gives us something to look forward to and also we want to finish strongly.
“It would be a shame to have such a strong season and then finish on a little bit of a downer, so we’ll go all the way until the last game and try to get the best performance out of the team.
“We’ve got QPR, Reading, Rotherham and Cardiff, so we still have some games that are going to be tough opposition.
“Saturday will be tough. They have some talented players, have a fairly strong record at home and I know they will be wanting to win.”