EDDIE Howe has urged his Burnley players to stay mentally strong to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Clarets’ top six ambitions were dealt another blow through Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town, their third loss in four games.

Although the gap between them and sixth place remains at three points, they can no longer boast a game in hand as Reading have also played 38.

Howe knows time, and games, are running out to achieve their play-off target and is desperate to nip their dip in form in the bud to avoid a crisis of confidence.

“I think confidence is an issue when you concede early.

“The players will doubt themselves and we need to be strong,” said the Burnley boss.

“When you’re going through a bad period in form and people doubt you that’s when you have to be mentally strong and say ‘we’re going to fight’, and if we lose we lose the right way.

“I felt we did that in the second half but it’s no consolation to us.

“I don’t think we created enough chances again. That was probably the most disappointing part.

“We were below our best in the first half, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.

“We had a go in the second half and rolled our sleeves up and fought, which is what we need to do right from the off.

“The Burnley supporters demand that you put a shift in, and we didn’t really do that in the first half, which is hugely disappointing.”

The Clarets pressed the self-destruct button by gifting an indifferent Ipswich two goals before the half-hour.

The first came from a Jimmy Bullard corner that could have been defended better to prevent David Norris from breaking the deadlock, then goalkeeper Lee Grant was caught off guard when Connor Wickham doubled the lead with a downwards header.

Leading scorer Jay Rodriguez took his tally for the season to 13 with an excellent finish, but the Clarets hopes of a comeback didn’t come to fruition.

“The way we started in the first couple of minutes you thought ‘we’re on it today’. We looked bright and lively and then the goal knocked us,” said Howe.

“The second goal was also a sucker punch. You’re 2-0 down and you’re thinking we need a response and it was difficult from then on.

“We had a go in the second half, scored a goal and you thought if we could lay siege to their goal for the last 20 minutes, and that didn’t really materialise. We never really created a chance.

“We’re conceding two goals a game at the moment, and at any level if you do that it’s a big ask.”

Howe insisted he would be prepared to accept the blame for suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, but stressed his appointment was never intended as a quick fix to faltering promotion hopes.

“I pick the team so ultimately I’m responsible and willing to take criticism because it’s part of the job,” he said.

“There’s always pressure in management. I’m well aware of that.

“My aims are to win every game.

“When you don’t do that you question everything, and that’s a continual process whether you win, lose or draw.

“We are looking long term and putting things in place. This is going to be a long-term job.”