For the second consecutive week, Burnley lost after comfortably leading against a side around them in the table with defeat at home to Newcastle United. 

Had they held on for the victory in both games, Premier League safety would all but be assured, as The Clarets could be on 39 points, which has been enough points to survive every season since and including the 2011-12 season.

But, defeats at Southampton and at home to Newcastle have left the club still just above the relegation zone, and despite it being a seven-point gap back to Fulham in 18th, Burnley are not over the line yet.

  • Will they stay up?

It has been a poor season, one which Burnley fans will want to forget in a hurry. But they should stay up, looking at the run-in of fixtures for the teams beneath them.

Sheffield United are done, they are gone and it is only a matter of time.

West Bromwich Albion have been playing out of their skin recently, and have dragged themselves into contention for survival, even if it is a long shot.

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But they are only eight points behind The Magpies and nine behind Burnley, so it would be wrong to count them out just yet, especially with Sam Allardyce in charge.

Fulham have been up and down all season with good performances but not too many good results.

Newcastle have been more down than up, but have produced a few fine performances here and there to suggest they have it in them to stay up.

Burnley still have a large part of the team that qualified for the Europa League in the not too distant past, so have the quality to be much higher in the league, just the depth of the squad has severely let them down this season.

Above them, only really Brighton and Hove Albion are close enough to be in serious danger – level on points with The Clarets – but The Saints poor form this calendar year could continue keeping them looking over their shoulders.

Burnley have a tricky set of fixtures but do play Fulham and Sheffield United in their last seven games, which also include home encounters with West Ham United, Leeds United and finally Liverpool in the penultimate game of the season while they still have to go to Old Trafford this weekend and face Manchester United and also an encounter at Wolverhampton Wanderers next week.

The final day game at Bramall Lane could be a must-win for Sean Dyche and his team.

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Newcastle, beneath Burnley, have an awful set of fixtures, facing West Ham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Leicester City and Manchester City before facing The Blades and The Cottagers themselves in two crucial games.

Fulham have played a game more than the teams around them, so are at a disadvantage there and face Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City in their final six games.

But games against Newcastle and Burnley and a trip to the South Coast to take on Southampton means Fulham still have it all to play for.

West Brom have arguably the hardest set of fixtures to see out the season.

Games at home against Wolves, West Ham and Liverpool are matched with tricky visits to Leicester, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Leeds.

Brighton are not safe up in 15th, with matches at Chelsea, Sheffield United, Wolves and Arsenal and home games against Leeds, West Ham and Manchester City.

No team mentioned here are going to be favourites in many of the games they have left.

But, to answer the question for Clarets fans – Will Burnley stay up? – I think the answer is yes.

Burnley could pick up another nine points to take them well over the magical 40 point mark and, even if they don’t pick up the nine points, it would be a miracle for Fulham to close the gap to them and pick up more points when they only have 18 points left on the table, including those games against the two sides above them.

A let-off for Burnley, but will it happen again next season?

Well, hopefully not.

New chairman Alan Pace has been very open with his intentions to support Dyche and strengthen the playing squad this summer to ensure a season like this doesn’t happen again.

The new man has come with a lot of questions about the source of his income and whether it is sustainable but it seems he only wants to do what is right by the club.

Depth is a major need this summer. Injuries have decimated the club this season and there has not been enough senior players ready to step up when necessary.

A younger centre back who can push for a place in the first team but is primarily one for the future should be a priority.

Ben Mee has had a few questionable moments this season where he has previously been so solid at the back.

Ben Gibson returning from his loan deal at Norwich City would be an ideal player to have about, but his bridges are burnt with the club and a deal to send him back to Carrow Road will probably be complete this summer.

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Attacking wise, goals have been hard to come by this term, only Fulham and Sheffield United have scored less.

Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes who usually share the goal-scoring load have missed a lot of time combined this season, Jay Rodriguez hasn’t been the signing Burnley fans would have hoped for while Matej Vydra has started to find the net recently but isn’t a reliable scorer for a Premier League team.

A new striker, maybe even an old one in Andre Gray for instance, would be a good signing to make. Dropping into the championship might be the way to go for Dyche to find a young goal-scorer.

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In midfield, more creativity is needed through the middle. Josh Brownhill has done that this season at times, so a player that compliments him would be a good move.

And keeping hold of Nick Pope. It is arguably going to be the biggest signing of the summer if he doesn’t leave. Because it is unclear if Bailey Peacock-Farrell can cut it in the top flight.

Exciting but nervous times lie ahead in East Lancashire.