CHRIS Brass is backing Burnley's battling qualities to steer them clear of a second successive relegation battle.

The Clarets have a five-point cushion above the drop zone and despite playing more games than most of their rivals look to have enough in reserve to stay out of trouble.

And despite losing 2-0 to struggling Wycombe on Saturday, the re-called Brass believes that is the case.

"Had we won the three points would have given us the comfort of keeping Wycombe down there and ourselves pulling away," he said.

"Looking on the dark side there's a possibility we could (get involved) but if we keep fighting I'm sure we won't get dragged into it.

"We've got some very big games coming up and unfortunately we have quite a few suspensions but we can't take anything from that.

"We have quite a good squad now so we have got to do as I have done today and go in and do a job.

"Let's hope whoever comes in now does a job and keeps fighting for the cause."

Brass was drafted back into the Clarets midfield for his first start in eight games in the absence of Micky Mellon and Mark Robertson.

And although he took his opportunity with both hands it wasn't enough to avoid defeat as Burnley had Lenny Johnrose and Ally Pickering sent off.

"It doesn't really matter how I played, unfortunately we haven't got the three points. "Obviously I am delighted to be back in the side but nothing seemed to go for us," Brass added with reference to Johnrose's dismissal.

"It's double standards if you look in the second half. The same thing happened in the second half and he ended up getting a yellow card.

"I'll agree it was a bad tackle but those sorts of tackle happen and for him to get a red card so early in the game was a bit frustrating and I really didn't think he would get it. Definitely a yellow, but a red was very, very harsh."

Burnley performed well with 10 men apart from a costly 60-second lapse when Wycombe scored twice early in the second half. " I think if we had held out for the 10 minutes going into the second half we could have snatched it 1-0 if at least not got a draw," said Brass.

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