Burnley never ‘helpless’ in battle to beat drop, insists caretaker Mike Jackson

Caretaker Mike Jackson insisted Burnley’s plight was never helpless after they edged to the brink of safety.

The Clarets’ 1-1 draw at Aston Villa lifted them out of the Premier League’s relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s final games.

They are 17th, above Leeds on goal difference, with Newcastle visiting Turf Moor and their drop rivals going to Brentford.

Ashley Barnes’ penalty gave the Clarets the lead before Emi Buendia levelled but Nick Pope’s saves from John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings and Bertrand Traore kept Burnley’s survival hopes alive.

Jackson, who had Matt Lowton sent off in stoppage time, said: “I never looked at it as helpless, I looked at it as we needed to get something from this game. You can’t hide away from it.

“For what the group went through tonight, the spirit and fight they put into it, was amazing. The game wasn’t a silky football match but we knew what we needed to do.

“It was the least we wanted to come away with, so we’re pleased with that.

“Nick was amazing. He has been doing that continuously, look at his quality and the way he has been progressing. He is in great form.”

Pope saved well from McGinn after 20 minutes but Burnley took the lead a minute before the break when Buendia chopped down Maxwel Cornet in the box and Barnes buried the penalty.

Villa levelled three minutes into the second half when Buendia ran from deep to meet McGinn’s cross and his volley squeezed past Pope.

John Brownhill tested Emi Martinez and Pope continued his one-man wall to keep out Watkins’ sharp drive.

Lucas Digne then survived a VAR check for handball with Jackson questioning the decision.

He added: “With VAR, there shouldn’t be an issue. It’s very clear. That’s why it was brought in. It’s gone, although