SAM Vokes admits Burnley are in a battle at the bottom of the Premier League table following a 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle United on Monday night.

The Clarets were two down inside 15 minutes at Turf Moor before Vokes halved the deficit with a wonderful header from the edge of the box just before the interval.

But Sean Dyche's side couldn't complete the comeback and are now without a win in six games ahead of Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace.

"We have a high expectation now off the back of last season, within ourselves and I am sure the fans do as well. It is about dealing with that expectation because at the end of the day we are in a battle now, there is no hiding away from it, and it is going to be tough but we have some big games coming up and hopefully we can turn it around," said Vokes.

"We are a battling club and we have always been that. We did amazing last year and that was a huge achievement but for us we want to get back to what we are about and we are going to be in a battle now and it is important we have everyone behind us.

"We need everyone together and the fans behind us which I am sure they will be.

"There is plenty of time until the end of the season, we know that. We are not getting carried away or sucked into things but it is important we address the issue and pick points up, especially at home because that is important in the Premier League.

"There is no better place to start (picking up points) than Palace and we can take the positives from this (Newcastle)."

Despite the defeat, Vokes insists there are positives to take from the loss to Rafa Benitez's squad.

"It's a very disappointing result," he added. "I think the positive we can take is that the performance was there but conceding two sloppy goals was always going to make it an uphill battle.

"We did well to get back in to the game but we paid for the sloppy start. They sat back, showed us that respect so it was always going to be a tough night. I think we can take positives from the performance. We showed bravery at 2-0 down to go and play.

"You come in to it with a gameplan and look to start strong and fast at home to get the crowd behind you. Straight away that goal kills you. From our point of view we did build in to the game; it's easy to build under at that point but we kept going and we were unlucky not to get anything in the end with the chances we created.

"On another night it goes our way and I think we go on to win the game. It wasn't to be but we go again on Saturday for another big game."

Vokes' goal came thanks to a wonderful header from 17.65 yards which the striker powerfully directed beyond Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

It was an excellent finish, and the furthest distance for a headed Premier League goal since Jamie Vardy for Leicester against Sunderland in August 2015 (18.03yards) according to Opta.

But the Wales international admitted it counts for little when the game was lost.

Of where his goal ranked he said: "It's got to be up there and it felt good at the time.

"It was nice to get on the scoresheet but the result is more important. That was the disappointing part."