Promotion experience will help us - David Jones

The Clarets take on Crystal Palace at Turf Moor tomorrow, having climbed out of the bottom three with victory over QPR last Saturday.

Burnley are on the same points as the Eagles, and after a season where they have been underdogs in virtually every game, the Clarets go in as favourites.

Jones said: “Last season we were favourites in a lot of games and we managed to perform under pressure at vital times. I think that’s the key thing.

“The mentality of this squad is very strong and I feel that we are going to need to be strong again against Palace.

“Last week against QPR there was a certain level of expectation, when we were at home, to win the game.

“Palace are a very good team. We respect them and it’s going to be tough, but we believe in our mentality and that we are going to be mentally strong enough to deal with the occasion.”

He added: “There’s more pressure with bigger games but I’d back us in these type of games to be able embrace them.

“I think the kind of mentality that has been bred at the club means we will be ready and the mentality will be right for those kinds of games so I don’t fear for us going into big games as the season comes to a close.

“We are not dealing with it as individuals. The mentality of the group is ‘we’re going hard, let’s see if you can cope with what we throw at you’.

“I think that’s been demonstrated in the past couple of months where we have been playing well and been a match for anybody.”

Asked how important that mentality will be, Jones insisted: “Very important. There is a cluster of teams there and there isn’t a lot between them so it will all come down to the mentality and if you can perform under pressure.

“We demonstrated last year the strength of the mentality of the club and the players and the team and that will be key coming into the final 17 games.”