Hull City v Burnley: Burnley's Laws not distracted by sack rumours

The Clarets have lost 11 of 13 Premier League games – as well as an FA Cup tie against Reading – since Laws was appointed as Owen Coyle's successor in January, with last week's 6-1 hammering at home to Manchester City leaving the team four points from safety in 19th position with five games to play.

Ahead of today's crucial relegation six-pointer at 18th-placed Hull, reports have suggested the 48-year-old's job could be under immediate threat.

But Laws has spoken with the club's chairman Barry Kilby and operational director Brendan Flood since the City defeat and feels there is no reason why he should not continue making plans both for the remainder of this campaign and the next.

"Whatever headlines have been written it's part and parcel of the game, I can't influence it, all I know is I'm planning for a game for this weekend," said Laws.

"I've been working on the players regarding our strategy for the weekend and I've been working on the short and long-term strategy of the football club."

Laws believes he has an honest relationship with the Clarets hierarchy and will be in charge next season.

On the rumours he is about to be sacked, Laws said: "For me it's just chip paper. We're an easy target. The bad news is at the bottom end of the Premier League, the good news is at the top end."

Burnley player-coach Graham Alexander believes it will serve his team-mates best to hold on to the painful memory of the Manchester City defeat as they look to make amends.

"It's good sometimes to keep it in the system because it can give you the chance to use it as a positive force," said Alexander.

"It's still inside me and I'm sure it's still inside most of the players and staff. We've got to use it going into the game on Saturday, knowing that we let ourselves down and everyone connected with the club and that we are not going to let it happen again."

Alexander admits, however, the team's form on the road may have developed into a psychological problem.

Kevin McDonald is in the squad despite the midfielder being fined by the club for leaving Turf Moor without permission at half-time during last weekend's match.