Cummings and Goings, with STEPHEN CUMMINGS. . .

"MASSIVE" -- that's how Stan Ternent has described Burnley's next two fixtures.

And he's not wrong. Indeed, it is almost impossible to understate just how important the next five days will be in Burnley's bid for survival.

Win them both, and we should be safe. Anything less than that, and Clarets supporters will almost certainly be suffering sleepless nights and chewed down fingernails until the end of the season.

Saturday's defeat at Ninian Park, allied to largely unfavourable results elsewhere, has left Burnley Football Club nervously eyeing the relegation trapdoor.

In fact defeat by two goals or more this evening will see the Clarets dip below the dreaded green line on page 325 on Ceefax.

The first part of this week's double bill sees Franchise FC pitch up at the Turf tonight.

Given that Burnley have shipped 72 goals this season, while the visitors have been breeched on 84 occasions (the two worst defences in the division), a dull 0-0 would not appear to be on the cards.

Anyone who regards the visit of the division's whipping boys to Turf Moor as three easy points needs to revise their opinion.

For one thing, Franchise arrived this evening with no pressure on them. Having been officially relegated a couple of weeks ago, the shackles are now well and truly off. Just ask Bryan Robson.

On top of that, a quick glance at the Milton Keynes side's record shows that five of their seven wins this season have been away from the land of the plastic cows.

In addition, Burnley's players are bound to be nervous.

Apart from knowing that they are playing for the club's Division One survival, the spectres of recent home defeats to Norwich and Watford will be fresh in their minds.

But enough of the statistics.

If the current crop of Clarets wish to avoid trips to Doncaster, Hull, Bounremouth and Colchester next season, then tonight presents them with a glorious opportunity to do something about it.

Much will depend on the likes of Robbie Blake, Glen Little and Tony Grant.

There's one other element that can influence events this evening -- us, the sppporters.

It is essential that as many Clarets as possible get down to Turf Moor and get right behind their team.

There can be no excuses. It's raining? Come and get wet.

Chelsea are on TV? So what?

We've been poor this season? That's not the point; your club needs you tonight.

It's the biggest game in Burnley's recent history. Until Saturday.