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{ 9:38am Tuesday 22nd February 2011

BURNLEY rued a second-half collapse as they bowed out of the FA Cup with a 5-1 fifth round defeat at West Ham.

But manager Eddie Howe is determined to focus on the positives as they bid to keep their top six Championship push on track.

The Clarets were proving more than a match for the Premier League strugglers, who named a strong line-up despite their relegation battle and having already reached the Carling Cup semi-final last month.

FROM BACK PAGE Howe counted his players unlucky to fall behind to Thomas Hitzlsperger’s strike in the 23rd minute but went into the second half with confidence after a bright end to the first.

However, the game took an unexpected twist as Carlton Cole made it 3-0 by the 50th minute.

Winston Reid and Freddie Sears made it more comfortable for the Hammers, either side of Jay Rodriguez’s consolation goal.

“I thought it could have been very different,” said Howe.

“In the first half I thought we were excellent and very unfortunate to go in one down at the break.

“We had a bad start to the second half, there’s no denying that.

“Defensively we looked a little shaky and West Ham punished us.

“But I thought there were a lot of positives to take from the game, a few things we need to work on, but the result could have been very different.

“If we could have got the first goal it goes without saying it could have made all the difference.

“We had a really good spell where we were keeping the ball and creating chances, the ball just didn’t fall for us in the box at times and their goalkeeper made a couple of good saves.

“But at the start of the second half the game was over.

“Once you go 3-0 down you’ve got to try to chase the game and it’s very difficult.”

But as attentions turn to back to the Championship on Saturday, and a derby at relegation-threatened Preston, Howe will look to quickly put the disappointment of this cup exit to bed.

“There’s a lot to take,” he said.

“We know we’ve got a talented squad and we know the areas where we think we’re very strong and I think we proved that today.

“I thought we passed and moved the ball really well in the first half.

“The result sort of takes the gloss off that. We know there are areas we can improve. The second half was a disappointment in terms of our defending and we got a little frustrated.

“All in all we’ve had a good little run in the FA Cup and now our focus has to turn to the league.”

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