STEVEN Thompson has no qualms about Burnley being the surprise package of the Championship, as long as the players keep believing in themselves.

The striker was disappointed that the first goal of his Clarets career didn’t amount to more than a point at Charlton in the end, particularly after feeling they deserved better than a draw from their meeting with high-flying Birmingham over a week ago.

Nevertheless, he believes they are garnering a reputation as one of the teams to be feared in the Championship.

“People, rightly or wrongly, probably wouldn't have considered Burnley as a team that’s going to be pushing right up in the top six at the start of the season because of all the other clubs that have got the bigger stadia and more money and more input.

“We’ve got to believe that we are good enough and take that forward and show it, and we have done,” said Thompson.

“We’ve absolutely dominated most of the teams that we’ve played, and I think the key to that has been the work-rate.

“Within the team it’s absolutely phenomenal, and teams are finding it hard to cope with that.

“We’re not one of the bigger named clubs, but this club has an amazing amount of history and tradition, and I think it has got the potential to move forward and up the league.

“We’ve just got to believe we can do it, and I think that all the right people are here, and hopefully the manager will be able to strengthen again and again.

“There’s no reason why we can't keep going. There's no reason not to be incredibly positive about how the team's been doing.”