Burnley is 18th in the English Premier League with 11 matches left, but long-time fan Izham Hassan is confident the club will survive the drop.
“The most important thing is to win the games in hand,” said Izham, who has supported The Clarets since the 1970s.
“Burnley has only played 27 matches. The bottom two clubs – Norwich and Watford – have played 29. Above us, Everton has played 27 games and is only four points ahead.
“Leeds and Brentford are also not safe. They have played 30 matches. There is still plenty to play for, and I have not given up hope that Burnley will remain in the top flight.”
Izham, who is the Malaysian Palm Oil Council marketing and marketing development director, said the priority is not to lose against Manchester City in tomorrow’s match (10pm).
That would be a tough task as Burnley has played Manchester City 15 times since its last victory in 2015. In that time, it has lost 14 times – including the last nine – and drawn once.
As such, many expect the Manchester club to return with maximum points tomorrow.
“If we can hold on for a draw, that would be great. Many think we will lose, but I have faith in the team,” he said.
Izham added Sean Dyche should remain as the club’s manager.
“There is no way the club will sack him after all he has done. He does not have a big budget but has kept us in the Premier League with clever buys.
“We have been unlucky with injuries this season. I believe Dyche will remain with the club for a long time.”
In other matches, Liverpool has the chance to reach the summit of the English Premier League, although it may be a short-lived stay.
Liverpool has reduced a 14-point deficit to one, and the early kickoff against Watford (7.30pm) could see the Merseyside outfit leapfrogging Manchester City to the top of the table, even with a draw.
With nine games remaining for both teams, Manchester City leads with 70 points, while Liverpool has 69, but a better goal difference.
The teams meet in Manchester next Sunday, for what could be the title decider.
If Liverpool goes top, it would be the second time it will be at the summit this season. The last time that happened was on Sept 25, 2021.
Liverpool is in sparkling form, while Watford is fighting for survival. It has 22 points with nine games to play.
Top scorer, Mohamed Salah, will be determined to make Watford pay after Egypt missed out on qualification to the Qatar World Cup.
Salah has a great record against the Hornets, with nine goals from seven games, and will be the main threat again.
Watford, coached by former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, has only collected eight out of 27 points, since his appointment on Jan 25.
It is third from the bottom, three behind Everton, which has played two games less.
Norwich looks doomed with 17 points, while Burnley has 21 points.
In the race for the Champions League spots, Chelsea welcomes Brentford tomorrow (10pm), while Arsenal has a London derby with Crystal Palace on Tuesday (3am).
Tottenham, Manchester United and West Ham all play on Sunday and need nothing less than three points to stay in touch with the top four.
FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
SATURDAY
Liverpool vs Watford (7.30pm)
Brighton vs Norwich (10pm)
Leeds vs Southampton (10pm)
Wolves vs Aston Villa (10pm)
Burnley vs Manchester City (10pm)
Chelsea vs Brentford (10pm)
SUNDAY
Manchester United vs Leicester (12.30am)
West Ham vs Everton (9pm)
Tottenham vs Newcastle (11.30pm)
TUESDAY
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal (3am)
