CLARETS boss Stan Ternent was left to rue a final 15 minutes that saw a precious point slip from his side's grasp as they were beaten 2-0 at Cardiff.

The introduction of substitute Andy Campbell with a little under a quarter hour remaining changed a game that seemed to be heading towards a goalless conclusion, but Ternent was not too perplexed while Burnley's survival remains firmly in their own hands.

"I have told the players that they will only have themselves to blame if we end up in the relegation zone," said Ternent.

"I know they are good enough and I have told them so, and I think we have got enough ability.

"And I felt we showed that against Cardiff. I really thought that we were going to get something out of that game.

"We were a little tentative at times, and a little anxious, but I thought we did alright and that we looked like getting a point."

However, the arrival of Campbell signalled a Cardiff onslaught with the former Middlesbrough striker first winning a penalty, converted by Richard Langley, and then scoring a second goal within four minutes of taking the field.

A push by Mark McGregor on Campbell led to the spot kick, which Ternent felt had changed the game.

"We were fine until the penalty decision," said Ternent.

"I felt the penalty award was harsh because Mark McGregor just tried to block the player.

"Their man had his back to goal and was going nowhere, and Mark really just stood in his way, so that was frustrating.

"But having said that I thought they got the penalty because they should have had one 10 minutes earlier when Glen Little tripped their player - and Glen could have had a penalty too.

"But that is not to have a go at the referee, who I thought had a very good match overall."

But once ahead, Ternent conceded that the Bluebirds had run away with the game.

"Once they were ahead that was it," said Ternent.

"They got a massive lift from that, they got a second goal quickly, which was disappointing for us, and towards the end they had a few more chances.

"That was disappointing for us after we had worked hard through the game, but we have just got to pick ourselves up and battle on."

THE RUN-IN

Tuesday April 20

Burnley v Wimbledon

Saturday April 24

Burnley v Derby

Coventry v Rotherham

Walsall v Sheffield United

Wimbledon v Gillingham

Saturday May 1

Crystal Palace v Walsall

Gillingham v Coventry

Rotherham v Burnley

Derby v Millwall

Sunday May 9

Burnley v Sunderland

Stoke v Gillingham

Walsall v Rotherham

Wimbledon v Derby