A THIRD minute thunderbolt from Jay Rodriguez is all which separated the sides at Turf Moor as high-flying Burnley heaped more away-day misery on Crystal Palace.

But despite the result, Palace boss Dougie Freedman was delighted with how his players recovered from the early setback to run the hosts close in what was a tight affair.

He said: “It was an early blow with the goal but apart from that, and one or two headers in the box, we handled them very well.

“We work on reaction through the week and whatever comes our way we take it on the chin and move forward and I felt that’s what we did today.

“We’ve come to a very difficult place had lots of possession, created chances and gave it a good go but just came up a bit short in the end, so I go home tonight quite pleased with what I’ve seen but disappointed with the result.

“There wasn’t a lot in the game at all, so I am comfortable with the dressing room I have and the performance today.”

Palace did have their chances to draw level, the best of which saw Darren Ambrose force Clarets keeper Lee Grant into a spectacular save from a free-kick.

But the Eagles could still not do enough to avoid their 14th league defeat away from home this season.

Freedman, though, says his side’s performances away from home mean he remains confident in the players at his disposal and their ability to turn around their dismal away form.

He revealed: “Our away form, as far as results go, has been disappointing but our performances I’m very comfortable with.

“They always react well in training and that’s what we encourage, so we’ll dust ourselves down, turn up for work on Monday with a smile on our face and look forward to the next away game at QPR.

“We’ve got good characters, good ability in the dressing room and I feel confident that if we keep on fighting for each other, then it will turn.”

To make matters worse for Freedman, Scunthorpe United’s shock 1-0 victory against Swansea City left Palace just a solitary point free of the relegation zone.

The Scotsman is not one to worry about other results, however, and is instead concentrating on preparing his side for the months ahead.

“I don’t bother looking because we can’t do anything about it,” he conceded.

“All I can do is take this great bunch of lads onto the training ground and work away on it and that’s what we’re focussed on.

“It’s going to be a tough couple of months.

“The Championship is a tough league especially when you’re down the bottom scrapping for your lives, but the good thing is the boys are doing that.

“Last week we scored three goals and had a few chances.

“So we’ve got enough in the dressing room and our performances have shown that we just have to turn those into results and you’ll se us climb the table.”

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