Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest's unsuccessful appeal over their four-point deduction for breaking the Premier League's financial rules will be greeted with a few cheers in Lancashire.

Had Nuno Espirito Santo's side been given two points back, it would have mathematically confirmed Burnley's relegation back to the Championship.

Vincent Kompany's side were humbled 4-1 at home by Newcastle United on Saturday, severely denting their prospects of Premier League football next season by leaving them five points adrift of safety.

They will have been keeping an eye on developments at the City Ground. The Clarets now retain a glimmer of hope but will need results to go their way.

Burnley must win at Tottenham on Saturday and hope both Nottingham Forest (home to Chelsea) and Luton Town (away at West Ham) lose to take it to the final day of the season.

Kompany has asked for "one opportunity" in their bid to stay up and that would come at Turf Moor with everything to play for against... Forest!

Just imagine the scenes if Burnley were to pull off the greatest survival story the Premier League has seen.

A thoroughly miserable season is nearly at an end.

While my competitive nature and logical brain understand that as a professional sports entity the aim has to be playing at the very top along with the elite, my overwhelming feeling will be relief to see the back of it.

Vincent Kompany said again after Saturday's match that he could not fault the effort of the players and he felt pride that they did not give up. I personally have not seen that effort. I see a side that conceded the first goal and just let the drive and optimism seep out of them. We seemed to practically sleepwalk through another three goals.

I felt so underwhelmed when I left the ground that I was convinced we had lost 4-0 and had completely forgotten about Dara O'Shea's [albeit lovely] header.

I have seen this same comment - a perceived lack of effort - so much online this weekend that it seemed sensible to address it. Are we being unfair? I have sympathy for the mental toll that persistent losses must inflict on athletes. It cannot be easy.

Kompany knows these players and sports science far better than me, so maybe mental resilience shows itself in other forms not immediately obvious to the humble fan? If that is true, is there a way that Kompany can communicate that message better in his post-match analysis, so it does not feel like a PR piece? Fans are not stupid and can see through tricks like that.

I think everyone has reached that point now where we just need to get to the end of this horrible campaign. Reset in the summer. Rebuild a squad. Build some bridges. Win the Championship. Enjoy our football again.

Because football is a way of life for so many of us in our community - and we want the smiles back.

Natalie can be found at No Nay Never podcast, external

On the latest episode of Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says the points deduction situation has been unfair on Burnley and Luton, describing it as an "absolute shambles".

Listen to the full episode here

We asked for your reaction to Saturday's match between Burnley and Newcastle.

Here are some of your answers:

Burnley fans

Mike: That's what capitulation looks like. Miserable game and miserable Bank Holiday weather. [Vincent] Kompany must be wondering how he ended up here. Championship football cannot come soon enough.

Bob: Just when there was a small ember of hope, this team finds a way to snuff it out before you get too excited. Vincent, this season is down to you. Playing youngsters who had little or no experience of first-team football, let alone in England and not playing the team that walked the Championship. The [James] Trafford v [Arijanet] Muric debate all season. Why ?

Jack: Was a really good start but we just weren’t able to hold on and Newcastle showed why they were in the Champions League earlier this season. Have to accept our fate now after Nottingham Forest won, but hopefully we can do it again in the Championship.

Steven: Don’t know where that performance came from after the first 15 minutes but remember they are a very good side! Poorest performance for a while in the biggest game of the season. Let’s get ready for next week - stranger things have happened!

Newcastle fans

Simon: Very positive team performance, We managed the game well and were quick and strong going forward. Given our injuries, particularly in defence, the back row performed well. Dan Burn is in form in his more natural centre back role. I am feeling positive about our final few games and chase for sixth place. Well done team - Eddie, staff and above all fans.

Kegs: Cracking performance. [Jacob] Murphy had probably his best game for the club. The whole team stepped up and we looked so dangerous when attacking. The goals are flowing at just the right time of the season.

Liam: Eddie Howe is more a manager of the year candidate this season than last. In contention for top five, with a threadbare squad and the most lost minutes due to injury and missing players in a season is incredible. If we get above media darling Ange's [Postecoglou] Spurs, he's pulled off one of the greatest seasons ever.

Geoff: This is what we’ve been waiting for - a rampant Newcastle team. In a mood like this they are difficult to contain but what a joy to watch. When all of our players are back, they will dominate no matter the opposition. Well done the Toon.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 presenter Alistair Bruce-Ball says Burnley "look doomed" after a demoralising 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle left Vincent Kompany's side five points from safety with two games to play.

The Clarets needed to beat the Magpies to maintain a realistic chance of survival but the limp performance coupled with Nottingham Forest's win at Sheffield United put them on the brink of an immediate return to the Championship.

"It looks like that could be that for Burnley," Bruce-Ball told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Beating the drop now feels a real long shot. They are going to have to win their last two games to have any chance - the last one of course against Nottingham Forest if it goes that far.

"First and foremost before they go to Tottenham next week they are going to have to recover after being blown away simply by Newcastle, who were in pretty irresistible form.

"Burnley started pretty well and thought they should have had an early penalty, but once Callum Wilson gave Newcastle the lead they never looked back.

"By half-time Burnley fans were already headed for the exit. Not a good day. They look doomed."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Friday and Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Burnley v Newcastle United

• Manchester City v Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany to BBC Match of the Day: "We came up against a better side, the team gave it everything. A very good start to the game. I don't think we lacked opportunities to be dangerous ourselves, we just couldn't match Newcastle in most areas of the pitch.

"They have lot of good players. We can't let ourselves get beaten down, it is what it is. We have to pick ourselves up and go again."

On how he will pick up the players: "It won't be difficult. We go again. Anyone that is looking at the season at the end of everything or the start of everything is a fool in this game. You have to continue, to keep going. You don't always get the reward for the hard work you put in but eventually you have to believe you will get the reward."

On their final match against Nottingham Forest: "I'm not going to focus on that. The fact of the matter is we play the last game against Forest. We can't control what they do, we can't control what Luton does. We have one game to play in between and that one game we need something special."

On the Burnley fans: "It's special town, a special club. It's the heartbeat of this community. It's every household that has a vested interest in Burnley. They were there in the Championship as well and we just have to work hard everyday for them because they deserve it."