Paterson has scored 18 goals for Burnley this season

Burnley striker Martin Paterson has warned his team-mates that losing focus in their final two games could threaten their play-off hopes.

The Clarets are well-placed to finish in the top six, but defeat at Southampton on Saturday could put things back in the balance.

"You can get carried away at times, but the lads here know our position," Paterson told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We know how many points we need and how quickly things can change."

I think playing Tottenham and being so close to the final that can only spur us on to get to Wembley Martin Paterson

The former Scunthorpe striker scored the only goal against promotion rivals Sheffield United on Monday - his first in 13 games.

And the 22-year-old believes the next two games against Southampton and Bristol City will be the most important for a number of years.

"They're massive, I'm not entirely sure of the mathematics but if we win on Saturday we could be where we want to be," said Paterson.

The Tunstall-born player says the disappointment of going out of the Carling Cup at the semi-final stage to Tottenham earlier in the season will act as an incentive for the remaining games.

"I think playing Tottenham and being so close to the final that can only spur us on to get to Wembley.

"We won't let what happened there happen again and we're focused, so touch wood we'll get there."

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