Sean Dyche has warned Newcastle United and their Premier League relegation rivals against writing Burnley off.
The Clarets, having beaten Everton 3-2 on Wednesday night, missed the opportunity to go within one point of safety after losing 2-0 at bottom-of-the-table Norwich City on Sunday.
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It meant the Magpies remained 10 points above the drop zone while 17th placed Everton opened up a four-point gap after defeating Manchester United.
Burnley’s relegation odds significantly shortened following the loss at Carrow Road but Dyche believes being written off might actually benefit his side.
“I labelled it a huge step back after a huge step forward,” Dyche said in Norwich post-match interview. “The league table doesn’t look hardly any different than it did before we played Everton.
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“That was the challenge then and it’s still the challenge now, we are just a game down. We have got to take on the next eight games and find that bit of freedom.
“I think maybe in a strange way it becomes easier when people write you off. More people will write us off now, we often do get written off.
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“But as I’ve said to the players, that can bring freedom, go and play, you will never have a better chance than in the next eight games.
“Virtually everyone will think that we are done but we don’t think that.”
Dyche’s men are back in action next Sunday when they travel to West Ham United before hosting Southampton on Thursday.
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In that period, Newcastle welcome Leicester City and Crystal Palace to St James’ Park in back-to-back home games.
Both Burnley and United meet on the final day of the season at Turf Moor.