Clarets wingman Graham Branch insists that the Burnley players are doing everything possible to bring the club out of its current slump.

Monday's 2-1 defeat to Wolves brought rumblings of discontent from supporters who haven't seen their side win since December 2.

However, Branch stressed that the Clarets losing run is equally distressing for the players and insisted that the down-turn in fortunes isn't down to a lack of effort.

He said: " don't think people always realise that the lads are going out there and are trying really hard.

"We don't want to come off the pitch losing. We get paid to play for Burnley and we all love Burnley.

"We don't want to get stick off the fans so we're going on the pitch and we're trying and some people don't appreciate that."

And in light of a dismal Christmas and New Year programme, Branch urged the fans to stick with the team and help them through their rough patch.

He added: "The fans here do expect a lot and with our start to the season we had letters saying they couldn't believe where we were.

"We've lost a few games and we need the fans to get behind us now. Some of them do and give us a clap which is really nice and the players appreciate that.

"But as the gaffer said there are some people out there who are getting on our backs and when you get beat five games on the run you don't need that.

"So hopefully those fans will get behind us and start cheering us. It makes a big difference to the lads and they play a big part in us winning games as well." The Clarets badly need a win to stop the rot and restore some belief and Saturday's FA Cup tie at home to Scunthorpe United offers them the ideal opportunity.

Branch believes that a couple of good results will revive Burnley's season and believes there is the ability at the club to reverse the current trend. He said: "We started off the season so well and maybe it is just a bit of a lack of confidence and the only way we're going to turn this around is by winning games.

"If we win a few, and hopefully we'll beat Scunthorpe, then that will turn the season round again.

"The gaffer will sort it out and we will sort it out. We've just got to knuckle down and if we do that we start winning games, it's as simple as that.

"The gaffer's the man that's going to turn things around and I'm sure it's going to happen. We just need to keep plugging away.

"I think all teams go through bad patches, look at your Watfords and Huddersfields, and we've got to just grind and work.

"We've got good enough players in our squad to cope in this league and that's shown with the season that we've had. Because we're getting beaten doesn't mean we are a bad side.

"If we can get a few wins under our belt confidence will return and we will start winning games again."