Burnley boss Laws praises Stoke's 'perfect model'

Burnley manager Brian Laws has hailed Stoke as the "perfect model'' for newly-promoted Premier League clubs ahead of the Clarets' home clash with the Potters on Wednesday.

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Ryan Shawcross scored for Stoke in the win against Burnley on the opening day of the season

Laws admitted he has nothing but admiration for the way rival boss Tony Pulis goes about his business, after guiding Stoke to safety in his first season and consolidation in this, their second campaign in the top flight.

Burnley will move out of the relegation zone should they achieve a victory against Pulis' side at Turf Moor on Wednesday, although Laws is expecting a fierce challenge.

"Tony Pulis is a great guy. I have known him for a long time. One of the things that has not changed is the way he has played the game in every division,'' he said. "They are not a long-ball team as some are suggesting because they do play good football as well.

"Stoke are a perfect model for teams coming up and something we have to look at ourselves. They have done it in the right way, not overspent. As a team they work hard, are organised and play to their strengths. If they get in front they are very hard to break down. They are a team of workers, not stars.''

Burnley have managed only one win in eight league games since Laws replaced Owen Coyle in January and are tipped to make a swift return to the second tier. But Laws is quietly confident they can turn things around with a home game against fellow strugglers Wolves to follow on Saturday.

"We are all enjoying it. Staying calm under these circumstances is most important for our players," he said. "We are an easy target. I want the players to go and prove a lot of people wrong. The last thing I want to see is them panicking. We have got to relax. We have earned the right to be here.''

Burnley suffered only their third defeat at home in the top flight this season when they lost to Portsmouth last time out and veteran striker Robbie Blake is anxious to make amends for that stumble.

"We were a bit disappointed at how we played and the goals we conceded," he said. "They probably deserved to win. We have got to make sure it doesn't happen against Stoke.

"If you had said with ten games to go we were a point away from safety everyone would have taken that. With six of the ten games remaining at home it gives us a big chance of staying in this division.''