SOMETIMES you have to hit rock bottom to work your way back up.

Burnley didn’t quite sink that low on their run of four straight defeats, but team togetherness is helping to turn their season around.

The Clarets now boast a run of three league wins on the spin. They will be expecting to make that four tomorrow – a first since October-November 2005 – when they host Portsmouth, who have yet to win away this season.

But just two weeks ago it was a very different picture for Eddie Howe’s men.

Going into their game at Hull City, they hovered dangerously above the drop zone.

After losing to Leicester and Bristol City before the international break, they were devastated by defeat being snatched from the jaws of victory at home to Leeds United in their next game.

Three days later, they were crushed when Birmingham City ended their hopes of a first away draw in stoppage time.

Trippier insists it was a strong team spirit that stopped them from caving in.

“It was bad going through that spell, but we all stuck together and believed, and I think our time’s come now to get the points we need,” said the right-back, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

“We stayed together and believed in our performances and each other.

“I don’t think we played badly in the run of defeats, we gave goals away and didn’t deserve it.

“That’s gone now though, and we’re looking forward.

“We’re flying at the moment. We needed that after a bad run, and it’s pushed us up the table.

“Hopefully another win against Portsmouth can push us up higher.

“We were a point or two off the relegation zone, and now those three wins have moved us right up there,” added Trippier, recognising the compact nature of the Championship.

“We’re delighted with how it’s going at the moment.”

But the Bury-born defender insisted the Clarets would guard against complacency, especially as there is still room for improvement when it comes to their home form.

“The three wins came at the right time, but we have to make sure we don’t go out there believing we just have to turn up to win the game,” said the 21-year-old.

“Anybody can beat anyone in this league. There is a lot of quality with players coming down from the Premier League, and it’s getting stronger.

“It makes it more interesting, and there are more teams pushing for promotion now.

“But our team’s spirit’s good and confidence is high.”

On a personal note, Trippier is pleased with how his own performances this season, in what is his second loan spell in the Championship, having spent most of last term at Barnsley, and the relationship is building with the club’s wide men.

“Junior Stanislas is a very good player, as is Ross Wallace, and we’ve had a good partnership,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter who’s in front of me, we’re like family and I’m just enjoying playing.

“It’s good to come here and try and get as many games under my belt as I can, to come to a club 10 minutes away from where I live, I’m delighted.

“The fans have supported me since I’ve been here, and I think I’ve been doing well.

“I want to maintain that to the end of the season.”