NEW captain Tom Heaton believes Burnley are closing in on their first win of the season.

The Clarets travel to Ipswich Town tonight unbeaten in the Championship, albeit having to settle for draws with Leeds and Birmingham in their opening two games, either side of their Capital One Cup first round exit at League One Port Vale.

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Burnley have had to come back from behind in both league games to take a point in each.

But goalkeeper Heaton says there have been encouraging signs in the way Burnley have played and feels it is only a matter of time before they turn draws into wins, although he admits a trip to Portman Road will provide a tough test, not least because of the 500 and odd-mile round-trip involved.

“They’re one of quite a few who could be up there,” he said.

“It’s another great game, another that we’ll embrace and what a great place to go and get three points.

“Each game is tough in the Championship. It’s got potential to be an open division.

“Potentially there’s a lot of teams that could do well this year and we hope that we’re one of them.

“We’re striving for that.”

Burnley have yet to hit full throttle, but their cause has not been helped by three clear penalty appeals in two games being waved away, while on Saturday they had a contentious spot kick given against.

“It looked like a strange one at the time,” said the Clarets keeper.

“I thought the decision was going to be a free kick going in our favour for a minute but it wasn’t to be and obviously the referee has seen it differently. Unfortunately that’s how it is.

“It’s frustrating because you want those decisions to be going your way and you certainly want the decisions to be right.

“My initial impression of it was that I didn’t think it was a penalty. As the manager says, you always hope these things come back round for you for the season and level themselves out.”

Heaton was close to keeping out Paul Caddis’ fiercely struck penalty, and was disappointed not to get anything on it.

“It’s always difficult when they strike it with power because it doesn’t give you an awful lot of time to react,” he continued.

“I’d gone to the right but he’d lifted it which makes it difficult. I tried to re-adjust my hand and my leg to make a barrier and I think it went between them.

“It’s frustrating because I always back myself on penalties but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit that it was a difficult one to stop.

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But for the third time in two games Burnley came back from behind to earn a point, and Heaton, who took the armband from Jason Shackell following the defender’s move to Derby, says their powers of recovery are something to build on.

“Unfortunately it happened twice (against Birmingham) but we showed a great bit of character to get back in it. With the chances we created and a few balls flying across the front of goal we were unlucky not to win it in the end.

“There are positives to take but the important thing is that we move forward to get that win. That’s the next thing on the list.”