AS someone who scans Saturday's results to see how Burnley fare every week, John Ward will be watching tonight's Carling Cup tie at Molineux with more interest than most.

The man who was assistant to Adrian Heath during his time as Burnley boss from 1996 to 1997 is keen to see how today's Clarets fare against Wolves, the club he left in the summer.

"Burnley is a club I like and a club I thoroughly enjoyed being at," said Ward. "I check the results every week to see how they get on.

"It's a sad situation that Stan Ternent has been struggling to fill the bench this season but it's great credit to him and his backroom staff that they have kept it in order.

"Like Wolves, they've been in lower leagues and bounced back, and now the supporters and people in the club need to be patient and let the football side keep at a good level."

After witnessing Wolves' amazing comeback form 3-0 down at half-time to beat Leicester 4-3 on Saturday, Ward feels that Dave Jones, another boss he was assistant to, will stick with a winning formula.

"I don't think Dave will make too many changes because he will want to keep that winning feeling in the club," said Ward.

"They are on a run of four unbeaten now and what they did on Saturday will give them confidence.

"It will be tough to win for Burnley simply because I saw Wolves on Saturday and if you'd asked me who I thought would win at four o'clock I'd have said Burnley. But ask me again at five and I'd fancy Wolves."

However, still being a follower of the Clarets means Ward has seen enough of them this season to know they are capable of springing a surprise in the third round clash.

He added: "I saw Burnley at Stoke recently and they were excellent, they played really well.

"If both sides can reproduce their form then it should be a cracking game in prospect, but I do fancy Wolves after seeing them hit those four goals.

"But knowing Burnley and Stan, they will get the players up for it and Dave will have the greatest respect for him and his team. He will know them from last year anyway after both being in the First Division.

"I think it will be a tight game and think there will only be a goal in it."

Ward, 52, has a long and distinguished career as a coach, having also been on the staff during Graham Taylor's first successful spell at Watford and also at Bristol City.

His last post was helping pal Paul Simpson in his caretaker role at Carlisle United, but Ward is currently out of work.

He said: "If you asked me have I applied for any jobs, I'd say I've applied for every job!

"I'm looking to get back into the game but the sad thing is someone has to lose a job for me to get one.

"But I'm always looking at the news and teletext to see what comes up and as soon as something does my CV is off.

"The difficulty is that there is probably another 20 guys with extremely good CVs applying for the same job so I hope I find a chairman and club that thinks they can work with me."