Crystal Palace must not be a soft touch away from home if they are to turn around their dreadful start to the season on the road, according to manager George Burley.

Saturday's 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Derby County at Pride Park left Palace still searching for their first goal and point in four away league games, while they have conceded 12 goals.

"We have got to be stronger," admitted Burley.

"We have a lot of young players in the side who are finding it harder away from home as there's not as much space and teams are closing you down quicker.

"We need everybody to stand up and be counted and the experienced players have got to help the youngsters as we need to be more difficult to beat on our travels.

"It's no good burying my head in the sand - away from home we have got to be stronger and we have got to be tougher.

"We cannot be a soft touch like we were against Derby.

"We started the second half well on Saturday and were getting back in then one cross hits a defender and it's 3-0.

"Sometimes it goes against you when you are not winning games away and the confidence is drained a little bit."

James Vaughan became the third Palace player to be sent off already this season and will miss three games thanks to his crude lunge on John Brayford.

"James has done very well for us, he's a first class striker so it was a big blow," said Burley.

"I am not saying it changed the game, it was a massive blow to us at the stage of the match to lose our main striker.

"It was a forward's challenge and I don't think he can argue with the decision.

"He apologised and everything to the lads, the ball was there and he lunged in but we won't be appealing against it.

"It's the third sending off since the start of the season which is poor.

"I have always had a team which hasn't had many yellow or red cards and that's an area we have got to be better in as it can punish you."