STEVEN Caldwell believes Burnley have overperformed this season to reach 10th position in the Premier League.

The Clarets maintained their comfortable mid-table position following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa and have surprised many of the pundits who tipped them to finish bottom this season.

Burnley have easily the lowest budget in the top flight but Caldwell believes the unity that boss Owen Coyle has instilled has allowed them to surpass all expectations.

“We’ve got a great dressing room spirit - we always have,” said the skipper.

“It’s a very special thing when you get it because it does not happen very often, but we’ve got a bunch of players that are together and committed to achieve success and basically overperform.

“That’s there for everyone to see, that we are overperforming and we are just enjoying our football.

“Whether that comes from our manager, the way he enjoys the camaraderie, and encourages it.

“Obviously I’m captain and I try to pass on his word and be the link between the staff and the players, but it’s a great team to be captain of because they’re great pros and great players as well.

“We have to be committed in everything that we do and we’ve been showing that most weeks.

“It’s a long hard battle and if we play with that commitment and the energy that we did against Aston Villa, our undoubted quality is there for everyone to see.

“We’ve shown that in the last few games and most of the season.

“It’s early days and we are not getting carried away, but if we show that kind of effort we feel we can stay in this league.”