We still use doubters as motivation, says Burnley defender Steven Reid

The Clarets have a five-point gap to safety to make up, with just four games remaining, following Saturday’s defeat to Leicester City.

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With three of those fixtures away from home, and only one recorded on the road on their return to the top flight so far - against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in November, the odds are stacked against Sean Dyche’s side getting themselves out of trouble.

But Reid says that is not a dilemma for Burnley because that has long been the case.

“We’ve almost been underdogs all season. There’s been a perception that Burnley will come straight back down. But that gives you motivation,” said the Millwall and Blackburn Rovers defender, who finished 17th with a three-point cushion in his final season with West Brom last year.

One good omen for Burnley on their travels is, after Saturday’s trip to West Ham United, the next stop is Hull City’s KC Stadium.

It was there that the Clarets recorded their first and only away win in their last Premier League season of 2009/10.

Martin Paterson and Wade Elliott were among the goals that day, either side of two Graham Alexander penalties.

Burnley were to have relegation confirmed two games later, however, following a 4-0 defeat at home to Liverpool with two top flight games remaining.

Michael Duff has spoken of the side’s determination to stay in the hunt for Premier League survival going into the final game of the season, at relegation rivals Aston Villa.

Former Republic of Ireland international Reid insists there is an underlying positivity in the Turf Moor camp which is not based on how many points it will take to stay up but a belief they can.

It is Dyche’s confidence in his troops that means they will keep their target of 17th place, or higher, in their sight.

“I’ve been in dressing rooms where there are points targets on the board,” said Reid. “But under Sean Dyche the message is each game at a time.”