IT WAS as the train was pulling into Manchester Piccadilly on Saturday evening and I was preparing to disembark that I clapped eyes on him.

Clad in claret and blue with a hang-dog expression and a thousand-yard stare, the poor lad looked punch drunk. “How’s it going, pal?” I ventured. “I’ve had enough” he replied with a shake of the head. “I just want it to end.”

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Amen to that. This has been a long, gruelling and punishing campaign; particularly for that dedicated band of supporters who put the time, effort and financial and emotional commitment into following the Clarets away from Turf Moor.

Granted, there has been the odd good day here and there; coming from behind to rescue the points at Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea will reside in the memory banks for some time yet, but as a rule the experience has not been an especially happy one.

In all the division, only Queens Park Rangers have picked up fewer points on the road – but at least their fans have seen a couple of wins and a few more goals.

Burnley’s solitary success came back in November at Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium, when Danny Ings scored twice in two minutes, fooling us all into believing that we might be able to cut it at this level.

But last Saturday’s reverse at the Boleyn Ground was more typical of the travelling Claret’s away day experience during the 2014/15 season.

Plenty of running and commitment? Check.

Not much in the way of good luck? Check.

Falling that little bit short when it comes to the quality needed to survive at this level? Unfortunately, yes.

Here was an underwhelming display from Sean Dyche’s men who, other than a couple of five-minute flurries, never really looked as though they were capable of mounting a serious challenge.

True enough, the sending-off made this an uneven contest, but a neutral observer would never have guessed that this was a do-or-die game for Burnley.

And there, perhaps, has been the difference between the Clarets and the other strugglers.

When the chips have been down in recent weeks, Leicester City, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Hull City have all been able to find that extra gear and produce a performance and a result which has kept their survival hopes alive.

Burnley, meanwhile, haven’t even been able to find a goal.