AT THE risk of making an understatement, this has not been a good week for Burnley supporters.

Having gone an impressive 12 games unbeaten, the Clarets have dramatically nose-dived, suffering defeats at the hands of Portsmouth, Grimsby and Preston.

And most worryingly of all, the Clarets are shipping goals at an alarming rate. Based on the evidence of the last three games, Burnley concede a goal every 15 minutes. Only Grimsby have a flimsier defence.

Against Portsmouth, the Clarets could be given the benefit of the doubt. Pompey are a class act and it is little wonder they are comfortably the division's highest scorers.

The same claims cannot be made for Grimsby and Preston. The defending during last week's astonishing horror-show at Blundell Park was as bad as anything during Ternent's reign -- including the 6-0 defeat inflicted by Manchester City during the manager's first season.

Much of the blame for the defeat against Grimsby has been heaped on Arthur Gnohere -- most scathingly by Ternent.

And whilst Arthur was poor, it is worth noting that Burnley continued to leak goals after his substitution. Questions might also be raised about some dubious tactical decisions.

Why, for instance, was Davis not dropped back into defence as he was against Preston?

Leadership was required at the back. Instead Graham Branch, again played wildly out of position, was left to struggle.

One of the major causes of Burnley's leaky backline is the continued absence of Ian Cox.

As Gnohere pointed out recently, Coxy is "the main man." Comfortably the Clarets' best defender, Cox has become a byword for reliability. His ability and experience are irreplaceable, as Burnley are finding out.

It is beyond coincidence that Arthur's dip in form has occurred during Cox's spell on the treatment table.

Yet the defence is further undermined by a lack of cover from midfield. With the current formation and players, the Clarets are set up to score goals. The problem is they are also set up to concede them.

In Weller, Cook and Grant, Burnley possess a trio of midfielders with barely a tackle between them.

Which is why Ternent has to turn up a 34-year-old central defender who has never played in midfield in a desperate attempt to beef things up.

In fairness to Davis he has done well. Yet the problems of a three-man midfield were exposed against Preston, as was Davis when the home side strung five across the middle and controlled the game, particularly in the first half.

Such a formation could prove risky tomorrow evening when Spurs roll into town.

A player such as Teddy Sheringham will revel in the vast, Serengeti-like tracts of space found between the halfway line and Burnley's penalty area. Time to tighten up.