BURNLEY boss Stan Ternent singled out his defence for special praise after a dour Selhurst Park stalemate.

The Clarets chalked up back-to-back clean sheets for only the second time this season in Saturday's First Division clash with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.

David May and Mark McGregor were both outstanding at the heart of a back line that refused to buckle. And Ternent admitted his two centre backs are showing promising signs of forging a formidable pairing.

He said: "The defence did well and that is what they are paid for. Mark has been been out for a long time - all season almost with the operation he had on his knee.

"But he has come back and grasped the opportunity with both hands. He is a good defender who smells danger. He is playing very well and he and David make a good pair."

Burnley withstood a late barrage from Palace to end a dismal run of four straight league defeats and pick up their first point of what will hopefully be a brighter 2004.

Ternent added: "We defended very well when we had to. Selhurst Park is a difficult place to come and they have a new manager in Iain Dowie, who the players will be out to impress.

"They had a chance or two, but so did we and I think a draw was probably fair at the end of the day.

"You would expect the home side to have the lions share of the pressure, but we coped with it very well. Brian (Jensen) had a few saves to make, but I think the best save of the match was probably the Thomas Myhre one from May's header

"That was an excellent save and I don't think there were too many other clear-cut chances. One or two little bits and pieces that on a better day could have gone in, but a draw was just about right."

Ternent revealed he was almost forced into an 11th hour reshuffle before midfielders Richard Chaplow and Glen Little both passed late fitness tests.

He explained: "Glen has had a hamstring and it was a bit of a risk, while young Richard Chaplow has a bit of an abductor strain.

"We tried them both out at about 9am on Saturday morning and they were both okay. Richard was okay to start and Glen wasn't quite happy to, but he got through a good 35 minutes and did very well."

With the defence doing a sterling job, strike partners Robbie Blake and Ian Moore could not snatch all three points for the Clarets with goalscoring chances at such a premium.

The duo have reaped 12 goals between them in the Clarets last ten games to underline that Ternent's troops will always have a chance of winning games if they can tighten up at the back.

And Ternent admitted the in-form partnership would be crucial to the Clarets survival hopes in the coming months.

He added: "Robbie is a very talented player and a handful for anyone on whatever level. I don't think you would have an argument with anyone when you say he is very important for us.

"He is our leading goalscorer and both he and Ian Moore have done very well this season to get in excess of 20 goals. Hopefully they can get a few more yet."