BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche feels his side have 'lost the eye of the tiger' after their winless run extended to seven games with a 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

The Clarets were outplayed at Selhurst Park and didn't manage a single shot on target while the home side had 29 efforts on goal.

And Dyche knows his side need to improve ahead of a Turf Moor double header against Liverpool and Brighton this week.

"The better side won," he said of Saturday's defeat. "I certainly think there’s work to be done.

“But these players have worked hard to achieve and be playing at this level. Now it’s about getting the gloves on and taking it on, and I think there’s a fight in there.

“Nobody gives you anything in football and we’ve earned this right, and you have to earn it again when people are knocking you.

“That’s the biggest time to get those gloves on and say, ‘bring it on’.

“We are in that strange position where the eye of the tiger has gone a little. Last year everyone was on it, all of the time, and we showed no fear.

“We looked people in the eye and said, ‘you had better be ready, because we are’ and that gives you a chance with everything, particularly when you have that underdog feel.

“Our status has changed, which should be a good thing. The players and the club have become more recognised, because of the achievements of last season, and that brings a different demand.

“I actually enjoy that, because we’ve worked hard to be recognised. But while some individuals love that and thrive on it, others find it really tough and we are kind of in that mixed bag and it’s affecting the group tactically.

“To get that eye of the tiger back, it’s like a good boxer. He gets back in the gym, just as we have to get back on that training pitch and work hard, because changing things around all comes from a base of hard work.”

And the Burnley boss hopes this is the low point for his side as he seeks to turn around their fortunes.

“Sometimes there’s a bottoming out period, and I am hoping we’ve got to that stage," he told the club's official website.

“It’s hard to explain because there’s no measurement, but subliminally everyone says ‘we’ve got more than that’… and we’ve got way more than that, I am sure of it!

“I’ve seen these players give so much to the cause and I’ve seen them grow, but when fear comes into football it’s a tough thing.

“It plays tricks with you, your fluidity and the distances you cover and the will and demand. The units start drifting and when things get stretched, you get a bit rigid and start playing as individuals, concentrating on doing your own job first.

“We know we have to be a team and that’s just got a bit stretched at the moment.

“It’s a good effort they’re showing, but it’s just misguided at the moment and we have to remind them of the simplicity of how they play.”