Turf Talk, with DARREN BENTLEY

KNOWING you have a problem is one thing.

Knowing exactly how to solve it is a whole different ball game - and the industry I once worked in gave me a taste of what it must be like to feel like Stan Ternent at present.

As production controller of a plastics firm, I had a seemingly infinite number of products to plan into a finite number of machines to keep all my customers happy.

I failed. On a daily basis. It became an all-consuming task to find that elusive combination that would make my life easier for one magical moment.

I lost sleep. I spent my life at my desk and I only ate (badly) when the phone stopped ringing for a nanosecond.

There were circumstances far beyond my control that, in hindsight, led to this nosedive in quality.

But as someone at the eye of the storm, the bitter experience still scarred me for life. For Bentley, now read Ternent.

Over the past five months - again after extenuating circumstances that have been well documented - every permutation has been used in his fruitless quest for a few clean sheets!

A quick recap of the defensive problems that have haunted us this season makes for uncomfortable - but essential reading.

Over the 29 games played in all competitions, seven different pairings have been used at centre half to try and keep the opposition out and the punters happy.

In no particular order, they are Arthur Gnohere and Graham Branch; Gnohere and David May; Branch and May; Andy Todd and Branch; Todd and May; Mark McGregor and May and, finally, Gnohere and McGregor.

Jay McEveley is now on board to potentially throw a further body into the mix as the Claret prepare for a make-or-break FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield this weekend.

It all adds up to a conundrum Ternent has to solve quickly to end the current slump that could have serious consequences for Burnley's First Division future.

But looking back at the above list, the one thing is certain; it's not for the lack of trying.

Each partnership brings it's own strengths - and there have been times in many of those 29 games where Burnley's defence has been pretty rock solid.

However, the weaknesses have regrettably kicked in at vital times to kick Ternent where it hurts.

Elementary, basic, schoolboy errors that no-one could predict continue to cost the Clarets dear week in and week out.

It's sounding like a mantra, but Ternent is dead right when he says all you can do is work the players hard on the training ground to iron out flaws.

There really is no other option. Burnley cut their cloth accordingly last summer when the financial situation was spelt out to the manager in no uncertain terms and the likes of Steve Davis and Ian Cox were shown the door.

What's left is what's left and those entrusted with the shirts have to start earning their corn. Otherwise, like that plastics firm, the customers will go elsewhere.