Dean Smith dedicated Norwich City’s battling 2-0 Premier League win to the fans – and insisted the great escape is on.

Pierre Lees-Melou and Teemu Pukki struck in each half to inflict a blow on Burnley’s own survival hopes, and keep the Canaries in the scrap.

City remain effectively eight points from safety, with seven games left, but the manner of a spirited Carrow Road win underlined they will not give up the fight.

“We have had a lot of frustrating times. This is why we play this game. Going out there and putting in a good performance,” said Smith. “It was important to get the performance and the result because it showed everybody in the dressing room, and more importantly the fans, we are still in there and still fighting.

“We have not given up. We have never given up on the challenge and it is a challenge, I have to be realistic. I have seen these challenges overcome many times, none more so than what Shakey (Craig Shakespeare) did before at Leicester.

"Who knows what can happen if we win two or three on the spin. Then the table looks a different place.”

City had a huge let off when Maxwell Cornet skied over from inside their six yard box in a frantic second half.

“My heart was in my mouth,” admitted Smith. “Maybe it was one we got away with but we grew after that. I felt we started to show more confidence and composure, and what good players they are. Burnley make you defend, they put balls into your box and you have to defend well.

"I thought we always looked a threat on the transition, and that was something we had worked hard on during the week. It was one of the reasons we played Kieran Dowell, because he has that ability to connect the play.

"Technically he is a really good footballer and tactically very aware of where he needs to be on the pitch. I thought he got in between the lines.

“Other than perhaps the final pass we looked a real threat at times. I always felt the first goal was going to be important, because neither team have been free-flowing. That was really important for us because it gave us something to hold onto.

"But I also said to the players at half-time I wanted us to go and get a second and not be hanging on. We did do that. It was a marvellous second goal.

"It gives us the win but just as important for me was when Tim Krul makes a big save in the final seconds to give us two clean sheets on the bounce.”