SAM Vokes believes Burnley will use dropped points at home to Wolves as a reality check in their push for promotion.

It was the first time at Turf Moor that the Clarets had surrendered a lead this season, with Danny Batth cancelling out Vokes’ header in stoppage time.

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As a result their lead at the top of the Championship has been trimmed to four points over Brighton, who they play next, while Middlesbrough are five points adrift with a game in hand.

But with eight games to decide the outcome of their season, after the two-week international break, Vokes believes the point could prove a timely reminder of what it takes to achieve their top two ambitions.

“Obviously to go 1-0 up was good - we thought we would kick on from there, and I don’t think we really did that,” said the striker, whose 14th goal of the season contributed to a 15th game unbeaten for Burnley.

“Wolves came with a gameplan and played it very well, they stopped us from playing and broke on the counter attack, and looked dangerous.

“Obviously it was a killer blow at the end. It was a great header from Danny (Batth), they did well to get the point and it was a well-thought game, but it hurt.

“We mentioned bigger picture stuff in the changing room at the end. There were a lot of the lads disappointed at how it happened, but the last 15 results have been massive and got us to where we’re at.

“It’s probably a reality check and a chance for us to work over the next two weeks and go into a big game at Brighton.”

He added: “I suppose there’s an expectation level that comes with the success we’ve had, we won six games on the bounce and everyone thinks we should win every game.

“I suppose we feel like that as well, which is why we’re frustrated we didn’t, but we came up against a tough Wolves side.”

On a personal note, though, Vokes was delighted to continue his scoring streak, with his second half header “I feel brilliant, to be honest,” he said. “It’s always good for a striker to be scoring goals, and I went on a run earlier in the year where I wasn’t doing that, so it makes it better when you do. You appreciate it more.

“It’s a good time to be scoring goals.

“It’s a good return and that gives the team the base to go on and win games, so it’s our job as strikers to hit the back of the net.”

And Vokes insists that despite Saturday’s disappointment the players remain in a positive frame of mind.

“There’s a good feel about the place. Obviously it was frustrating against Wolves, but we’re in a good place,” he said.