ROBBIE Blake has blamed slip-ups to rock bottom sides for the collapse of their play-off dream.

Four defeats in the last eight games have seen Burnley's bid for the top six slowly slip away, while the gap could increase to five points if Ipswich beat FA Cup semi-finalists Cardiff tomorrow night.

But Blake believes the Clarets came unstuck as far back as December, when they lost to Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End when both sides were propping up the Championship on arrival at Turf Moor, while in February they only managed a 1-1 draw at home to bottom-placed Colchester United.

"It's been disappointing that three teams that were bottom of the league came to Turf Moor and we didn't take a point, so that's frustrating," said the 32-year-old striker.

"That's nine points, and if we had those then we'd be looking at automatic promotion.

"But you look at the other teams that are in the same position and ask do they want to go up'?

"You can't speak for every team in the division but you look at the games and they've actually let points slip.

"There's only Charlton who have beaten Plymouth away from home out of the sides that have still got a chance (of the play-offs).

"And obviously with Sheffield United winning, unlike teams around them, that's maybe brought them back in with their game in hand.

"It's going to be eight teams battling it out and hopefully we can sneak in the back door.

"I don't think anyone will expect us to win the four games, but if we can, who knows.

"We can only win the games and see where it takes us."

He added: "It's a funny league, especially from our point of view because we thought Norwich were there for the taking (on Saturday) and we didn't do it.

"But you look at it now and they are in mid-table, whereas three points before they were looking at the relegation zone."

But Blake stressed a determination remains within the Clarets camp to keep fighting while it is still mathematically possible to finish in the final play-off spot.

And he hopes Kyle Lafferty will rediscover the goalscoring form he showed in the home win over Barnsley in the remaining four games.

"Kyle did well again (on Saturday). He's getting into good positions and hopefully he'll take the chances soon," said the former Birmingham and Leeds frontman.

"He's capable of doing it, and the more chances he gets, the more he's going to score.

"He's very good and very mobile and good to play with.

"He's got a good touch and everything you need in the game.

"Once he starts to learn to calm himself down a bit once he gets the ball and show a bit more composure he's going to be a real handful for anybody, in this division or higher up."