LEE Grant believes Burnley have rediscovered their resilience in time for the final countdown.
A goalless draw at Cardiff City was the Clarets’ first clean sheet in five games and 10th since October, going into the last 10 games of the season.
Burnley were in touching distance of the top six at the end of January, after twice recording three successive clean sheets.
But that form was has been reversed by a run of only one win in eight games, sending the Clarets into the bottom half of the table.
Eleven goals were conceded in the seven games before Cardiff – six in two games against Millwall and Watford.
But Grant insists the steel has returned to their rearguard since Sunday’s stalemate in South Wales.
“We had a good run of clean sheets not so long ago so it was nice to get back to that, and I’m sure the back four feel the same,” said the former Derby and Sheffield Wednesday stopper, ahead of tonight's trip to Ipswich.
“It’s hard to put your finger on why you go on a really good run of clean sheets and all of a sudden they seem to disappear.
“It felt like we sank back into that nice rhythm (at Cardiff). We felt organised and communication was good and I didn’t really feel on Sunday that our goal was under any real threat, so that was great.
“The clean sheet was overdue and it was an organised performance defensively. We can certainly take the positives out of that.
“Hopefully we can do it again.”
Six shut-outs in seven games earlier in the season prompted a 16-point return.
And goalkeeper Grant insists they need a replica of that run to close in on the play-off pack.
“We had a good chance this year, and we still have a good chance, but for that to happen now we’ve got to put a special run together,” he said.
“That’s not beyond the realms of possibility because it’s happened to a couple of teams this year and we’ve been on tremendous runs ourselves throughout the season.
“It’s certainly possible but it’s more of a long-shot than it was six or eight weeks ago.”
But Grant is taking encouragement from an 11-game unbeaten run that has propelled Reading from eighth into the automatic promotion places.
“At the time they weren’t a team in the division that you would highlight as one of the teams that would go on and do that. It’s certainly possible.
“There is an outside chance for us.
“We have our own goals as a squad and staff members and we all want to achieve those.”
Meanwhile, Jay Rodriguez still has a chance of returning to the line-up, after being rested at Cardiff City.
The 21-goal top scorer was taken off at half-time of their home game with Crystal Palace after struggling with a groin strain.
“We’re hopeful he’ll be fit,” said Tindall. “He was a little bit unfortunate to miss out on Sunday but it was the right thing to do for Jay to stop any long-term problems.
“He’ll be assessed by the physios and fingers crossed the news will be good and he’ll be available for selection.”
Of Rodriguez’s absence at the Cardiff City Stadium, Tindall added: “Of course you’re going to miss a player of Jay’s quality but a positive was the performance of Danny Ings.”
But Rodriguez has scored eight of Burnley’s last 11 goals, and Tindall said: “It’s not just the goals but a fantastic player – one of the best in the Championship.”
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