Burnley's survival chances written off by leading pundit despite upturn in form
Burnley can move within five points of safety with a win this weekend – yet a leading pundit has already consigned them to relegation.
A four-point haul from back-to-back away games at Crystal Palace and Chelsea respectively has given Scott Parker’s side a smidgeon of hope in their fight to avoid the drop.
Now eight points adrift of Nottingham Forest in 17th, the Clarets can pile on the pressure with a win against Brentford on Saturday – with Vitor Pereira’s side not in action until the following day.
But Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith appears to have all but written off Burnley, claiming the players are now only playing for themselves.
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"The fans have been turning,” he told BestBettingSites.co.uk. “I know they’ve booed the team off the pitch a few times, but the Burnley players are still going at it.
"They kept going until the end at Chelsea. They know within themselves that they’re relegated, but I suppose they’re all playing for themselves, perhaps hoping that they can stay in the Premier League [with another club] when Burnley do get relegated.
“It’s always difficult to say whether the players are with the manager, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to maintain your own standards and do the best you can.”
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