Scott Parker has called on his players to be brave ahead of their now-or-never meeting with relegation rivals Burnley.

The pressure is on Fulham, who are nine points from safety with four games to go, after letting a string of opportunities to improve their survival hopes slip through their fingers.

Parker’s third-bottom side host Burnley, the team above them, knowing only victory will do if they are to stand any chance of pulling off what would surely be the greatest escape from top-flight relegation. Lose and Fulham are down.

‘They are going to need to be brave,’ said Parker. ‘Not just brave players but players in those moments who can be really clinical.

‘Players that can live off that one moment when that moment is executed. Bravery and a cool head with a laser focus that can execute.

‘We’re playing a team who are nine points off us. Can we take that to six points with three games to play, if results go our way?

‘This is the pressure that comes with being in our position.’

While Parker is not hiding from what is at stake, he is refusing to think about next season while Fulham still have hope in this one, as small as that may be.

He said: ‘I just have the focus now — we need to beat Burnley. And whatever anyone else does, my main focus is, “Can we win this football match?”

‘If failure happens then of course, there are conversations we will all have.’