Burnley can add goals to watertight defence - Parker

Scott Parker's Burnley have the tightest defence in Europe

Scott Parker believes his Burnley side can start to add more goals to defensive grit as he charts a path back to the Premier League.

Burnley's rearguard has established itself as the meanest defence in Europe, conceding the fewest goals of any league side this season and keeping 22 clean sheets in 31 games.

Yet despite an impressively watertight back-line, Clarets fans have seen fewer goals per game than any other side in EFL history and no fewer than 10 goalless matches.

"Early on in the process we probably struggled in terms of really cutting teams open or creating good opportunities," said the Clarets boss.

"We probably needed to be a bit patient to work on movements, creating bigger spaces for us.

"We did that very well [against Oxford on Tuesday] and that does encourage me. I am starting to see elements of the work we are doing on the training field and that is very encouraging as well."

Parker gets a break from the Championship when his side tackle Southampton at St Mary's in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

And while he would welcome another solid defensive performance against the Premier League strugglers, it is goals he feels the team need from now until the end of the season.

January additions Ashley Barnes, young Ajax striker Jayden Banel and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey should help to unlock more in front of goal as the season progresses.

They may be in action this weekend against a Southampton side who will provide an accurate measure of the Clarets' progress towards a top-flight return.

"We can probably integrate the new players into this fixture, give them some minutes and get them up to speed," Parker added.

"But the plan is to be competitive. We have got a big fixture away from home against a very good side. I would like us to take this competition and stay in it as long as we can.

"There is nothing better than going on a really good cup run and our ambition is to try to do that."