BURNLEY will have to achieve a feat that only two clubs have managed in 20 years if they are to survive in the Premier League this season.

The Clarets have won only five of their 33 matches in the top flight so far this term to leave them facing a real battle to stay in the Premier League in the remaining five games.

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Only two clubs have stayed up from similar situations since the Premier League became a 20-team league in 1995/96, but it is those two examples that will give the Clarets hope.

Fulham incredibly stayed up in 2007/08 after winning only four of their first 33 matches.

It left them six points adrift of safety on 24 points – two less than Burnley have now - and only ahead of the already relegated Derby County in the table.

Roy Hodgson had been appointed Fulham boss halfway through the season but struggled to turn around their fortunes until the final weeks of the season.

Then everything changed. Fulham won at fellow relegation candidates Reading and, although they lost at home to Liverpool, they scored three late goals to triumph 3-2 at Manchester City.

A 2-0 home win over Birmingham City saw them leapfrog the Midlands club and leave things in their own hands on the last day.

Danny Murphy’s goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth and confirmed their safety, with eight wins and 36 points.

Within four years, Hodgson was England manager.

The only other team to have survived with five wins or less at this stage of the season was West Bromwich Albion in 2004/05.

Despite winning only five of their first 33 matches, 14 draws meant they sat just outside the drop zone with a game in hand.

Four games later and they still had just five wins. They went into the last game bottom of the table but survived, again thanks to a win over Portsmouth.

Bryan Robson’s men triumphed 2-0 at home to leapfrog Norwich City, Southampton and Crystal Palace, ending the season with six wins and 34 points.

Burnley are not the only club attempting to stay up this season with just five wins so far.

Sunderland have also claimed only five victories, although they have played a match less and sit 16th.