STAN Ternent has vowed to do something about his players after they suffered a third successive defeat at Preston on Saturday.

But as well as blasting his players he suggested he might have to shoulder some of the blame as he said: "Some players have taken their foot off the accelerator or maybe I am picking the wrong team."

His dilemma is that with Ian Cox suffering a hamstring problem, after recovering from a tendon injury, he admitted: "My hands are tied at the moment and I don't hold out much hope for him playing against Spurs."

Cox, who missed the trip to Grimsby, only played ten minutes on his return to the side before limping off.

"It is a different injury to the one he had and that is the part of the team where I have the least cover," he said. Steve Davis, who has been performing well in midfield, had to drop back alongside out of form Arthur Gnohere and Ternent added: "It is a problem.

"In the first half that was not Burnley. In terms of commitment, Preston were better than us, we set high standards for willingness and desire but we were short.

"We have got a good following, this is a smashing club but we are selling the fans short."

That could mean changes to his line-up for the big game against Spurs on Wednesday night in the third round of the Worthington Cup at Turf Moor but he knows that in the current financial situation even bringing loan players in is unlikely.

"At the moment we are patsies, but I will do something about it," promised Ternent who could not celebrate his new extended contract with three points.

"A few players are not performing to their full capabilities. In the last couple of games we have not given ourselves a chance of getting a foothold in the game. We were a goal down before we started.

"In the first half we did not turn up, we were found wanting, we did not compete."

That last accusation will be the one that most angered

Ternent and the improvement in the second half will not have eased his mood as another dodgy defensive display took the goals conceded in the last three games to a round dozen.

"We will have to brush up on that, we can't continue to do what we are doing defensively."

It was no consolation to the manager that his side had played its part in a thrilling Lancashire derby, especially in the second half.

"I think it was a good match, a good atmosphere but my business is about winning football matches. We have now lost three on the bounce having gone 12 unbeaten before that."

The other injury worry after the match centred on keeper Marlon Beresford.

"Marlon got a kick in his head but that happens from time to time for keepers," said Ternent who has got his other keeper, Nik Michopoulos out on loan at Crystal Palace at the moment, although available on immediate recall.

Having risen as high as eighth place the Clarets are now back down to 14th after defeats by Portsmouth, Grimsby and Preston.

Wednesday night's game offers them the chance to bounce back in the Worthington Cup. Opponents Spurs were held to a 0-0 draw by Chelsea at White Hart Lane yesterday.

What would the Burnley boss give for a clean sheet against Glenn Hoddle's side in 48 hours time?