BEN Mee believes Burnley’s ability to quickly put the pain of last season’s relegation behind them has played a key factor in their success this term.

The Clarets stand on the brink of an immediate return to the Premier League and they could be given the opportunity to seal promotion this afternoon if Brighton fail to beat Derby.

Even if the Seagulls make sure there will be no promotion party at Turf Moor later Burnley need just four points from the home fixture with Queens Park Rangers and the final day trip to Charlton to secure promotion.

This afternoon’s opponents came down with the Clarets last season but sit just 13th in the Championship table, while Hull, who were also relegated from the top flight, will face a play-off battle to make their return.

Newcastle were the last team to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League just a season after being relegated in 2009/10, a feat Burnley are close to repeating.

“I think we’ve done it better than a lot of teams have in the past,” Mee said of the Clarets ability to put last season’s relegation behind them.

“I think that comes down to our character, the lads we’ve got in the dressing room, there’s no big timers, there’s no ego’s and that always helps. We got our heads down and we’ve just gone about our business.

“We’ve put that (relegation) behind us. We’ve had a really good season so far but it will mean nothing if we don’t do the job. That’s been the aim all season and the feeling is positive at the minute.

“The second half of the season we’ve been on a fantastic run, we’ve set our sights high and we want to achieve that.”

The Championship’s top three have moved clear at the top of the division, and going into this weekend Burnley, Middlesbrough and Brighton were locked together on 87 points.

Boro’s draw at Birmingham on Friday night means they have gone top, although the two points dropped has given Burnley and Brighton the chance to demote them to third today.

It’s been a different run-in to two years ago when Mee was a part of the Clarets side who were promoted with three games to go, but the 26-year-old is enjoying this finale.

“It’s enjoyable and interesting,” said the former Manchester City youngster.

“You wouldn’t want it any other way, you don’t want to be fighting for middle of the table mediocrity, this is where you want to be and we’re enjoying it. We’re playing well and it’s what you play for.

“You want to be involved in it and we are. We’re looking forward to it, it’s going to come round fast and we need to enjoy it while we can, go into the games and have no regrets.”

Burnley are unbeaten in 21 league games since the 3-0 loss at Hull on Boxing Day and stand two games away from breaking the post-War club record for unbeaten league games, and that is something Mee has got his eye on.

“Any record is good, history would be nice and it should get us over the line,” he said.