Saturday 1 November 2014 14:23, UK
Scott Arfield says Crystal Palace have provided Burnley with the template for survival as their fight to stay in the Premier League continues.
The Clarets have the worst record of any team in the top four divisions of English football and have failed to win any of their opening nine games this season.
Palace were beaten in nine of their first 10 games last year and looked destined to be relegated but a superb second half of the season saw them finish 11th, 12 points clear of the drop.
Midfielder Arfield is using that example as both a source of inspiration and belief that the Turf Moor club can turn their season around.
"We saw that last season with the likes of Palace,” he said. “We can take a lot of belief out of that and hopefully we can get that win and kick-start us.
"I don't think we've been too far away. Palace away and Sunderland at home were two in particular that we could have got the three points in each game.
"We were under no illusions how hard this season was going to be and it's just that elusive win. Hopefully we can get there. I think we've given a good account of ourselves over the duration of the games and that's the main aim.
"The mood in the camp is exactly the same as it was last year when we were winning. You want to win every game but there's a realism about that.
"On a Saturday, when you go home you reflect on the game - did you do your best? - and I think everybody in the team can say that."
Burnley travel to Arsenal on Saturday and although the Gunners have not won at home in the league since the opening day of the season, it remains a daunting challenge.
The Clarets have already drawn with Manchester United, and Arfield hopes being major underdogs can play into his side's hands.
"There are games that are not in your division," he said.
"There's a league within a league and then you go through certain games and think that's where you're going to pick up points. But it doesn't always happen like that and that's why you need to look at every game the same.
"When you go to Arsenal you need to stick to your game plan. We know how good they are and what quality they possess as a team and individually, but I think if we go there and stay compact and stay in the game then you never know what can happen."
