We’ve got quality to survive, insists Burnley winger (From Lancashire Telegraph)

We’ve got quality to survive, insists Burnley winger

3:40pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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WADE Elliott’s Wembley wonder goal made him Burnley’s £60million man.

But the winger knows staying in the Premier League will be priceless for the Clarets.

Just eight games remain for the play-off winners to avoid an immediate return to the Championship, and the odds are increasingly stacking against them to get out of the bottom three after picking up only one point from consecutive home games against Stoke and Wolves.

Much will depend on the outcome of tomorrow’s trip to the DW Stadium, as Burnley bid to bridge Wigan’s three-point advantage and suck the Latics deeper into the mire by recording their first Premier League away win.

But Elliott points to the beginning of the season, when his first Premier League goal earned a 1-0 win over Everton just days after Manchester United were beaten by the same scoreline at Turf Moor, to prove anything is possible.

And he has urged Burnley to book-end their season by finishing with a flourish.

“If you looked at our first six games of the season nobody expected us to pick up any points.

"We confounded expectations then and that’s just what we’re going to have to do in our last eight as well,” he said.

“I don’t buy into the idea that teams have wised up to us. If we were going to catch anyone unawares we probably put that right when we beat United at home.

"That was our first home game so nobody was going to come here and think we were going to be a soft touch, but we carried on winning at home.

“I don’t think it’s because we’ve caught teams on the hop, or by surprise.

"I’d like to put it down to being good players and when we hit our potential we’re capable of getting results.

“We’ve obviously not been in the same vein of form in the last couple of months or so as we were at the start of the season.

"But we know it’s within us; we know we’re capable of getting results and it’s just a case of going back to the drawing board.”

Back-to-back home games against Stoke and Wolves were viewed as a potential catalyst for survival following a run of four straight losses.

But a draw and defeat have left the Clarets needing urgent back-up, and an immediate end to their travel sickness.

“We were disappointed last weekend but we can’t allow ourselves wallow in it. If we sit and sulk we will get turned over again.

"As difficult as it is you dust yourself off and go again,” said the 31-year-old.

“We have been galvanised by the criticism from outside.

"All the lads are passionate about their careers and we’re all desperate to do well.

“Everybody’s worked hard to get here and no-one wants to give it up without a fight.”