IGNORE KOMPANY WE KEEP

VINCENT KOMPANY has urged his Burnley players to ignore Everton’s 10-point deduction that has helped their relegation fight. The penalty for financial breaches has plunged the Blues deep into trapdoor territory on four points, the same total as Burnley. But Turf Moor boss Kompany (left) has told his players that they’ll stay up only on their own efforts. “I would be naive to think that whatever other clubs do at this moment in time is more important than what we do ourselves on the pitch,” the Belgian said.

“That’s what needs to be the deciding factor from our side, from the players’ side, from the management side.

“We’d be fools to focus on anything other than our own performances. My belief is that the team is looking forward to taking on those challenges. It’s the way I am as a person. I tend not to pay attention to anything I can’t control and this is not something I can control.

“Quite frankly, we’re not in any position to look at anybody but ourselves.

“My focus has been on turning performances into results because that’s the only thing that matters.”

The Clarets, who have not picked up a single point from six Premier League home games, are in a slump after losing their last half a dozen matches in all competitions and Kompany admits they are desperate to beat West Ham at Turf Moor tomorrow.

“I’d hope that being desperate to win is something you always have,” he said. “I don’t feel like you can ever go into a game not being fully committed to winning. I’d like to think that’s something that really does live in this club.

“It’s a case of adapting to this level still. No game is going to be easy and it’s still the same mission for us, to try to pick up three points.”