STAN Ternent has again called on his players to be more clinical in front of goal as they prepare to take on Grimsby Town at Turf Moor tomorrow afternoon.

In recent matches the Burnley boss has bemoaned his side's failure to score when on top at the start of matches and their failure to take the lead in games.

And the statistics bear out the importance of going in front to the Clarets this season.

The first goal is always vital and before tomorrow's game against Grimsby Town, Burnley had not lost a single game in which they have scored the opener and on only four occasions have they been pegged back to a draw.

The recent defeats at both Sheffield United and Walsall came after the Clarets had missed a couple of really good chances, Lee Briscoe at Sheffield and Alan Moore at Walsall both being foiled by the keeper.

History this season would suggest that had they found the net, Burnley would have at least got something out of the game.

In contrast, only twice have they managed to win a game in which they have been the first to concede.

Back in September both Derby and Stoke scored first against the Clarets but on each occasion Burnley battled back to win the game 2-1 although it is not something they have managed to do since.

They did concede the first goal against Bradford and in both matches against Ipswich and got a point from each but all 14 of their league defeats, as well as the matches that ended their cup runs, have come after falling behind.

The four times that Stan Ternent's team have been held to a draw after taking the lead were both games against Millwall and the away draws with Brighton and Crystal Palace.

With Grimsby fighting for survival it is another match when the first goal is likely to prove vital and Ternent is eager that his side should build on their improved display against Leicester in midweek.

"I saw an improvement and I thought we did very well against Leicester but we didn't get a break," he said.

" We had numerous chances and if we can be a little more clinical with the same level of performance, we should be okay.

"I was disappointed with the goals we conceded from the set plays, we've

got to better than that, no doubt about it, certainly the second one.

"The first one, Marlon said he (Dickov) kicked it out of his hands, but we've got to defend better."

If the Clarets are to be more clinical then they will again have to be so without the considerable presence of Gareth Taylor in attack.

He is completing his two match ban having collected ten bookings already this season.

Ternent opted to revert to 4-4-2 when Taylor was ruled out against Leicester on Tuesday night and Ian Moore and Robbie Blake certainly had enough chances to find the net.

That is the point that the manager is making, when the opportunities come along, they have to be taken.

His side has certainly been clinical enough in front of goal against the Mariners so far this season, scoring 11 goals in three games with both Moore and Blake having found the net three times.

Both did enough on Tuesday to suggest they will be a threat to a Grimsby defence that has recorded two successive clean sheets.

They never looked like doing that when the two side met in the league earlier in the season and Ternent recalled: "Six-five, it was bizarre. Every time any side went down the other end it looked like they would score, but it happened.

"It's in the history books. But there's always goals in the games when we play them normally, 6-5, 2-2 and 4-0. Mind you that is probably poor defending."

At least the maanger knows that if the Clarets can get on the scoresheet first, it will not quite be pipe and slippers time but it would suddenly look a fairly safe bet that the Clarets would be picking up a valuable three points.