MARLON Beresford and Dean West are hoping to sign new contracts with the Clarets this week.

Beresford gifted Portsmouth a vital second goal while West missed a 74th minute penalty that would have given Burnley a chance to push for a point against Portsmouth at Turf Moor in a game they lost 3-0.

But they were rare errors from two of the club's most consistent performers who are both at the moment on month by month deals.

They have both admitted that they want to have longer term deals and manager Stan Ternent admitted: "I hope to sort out Marlon and Dean this week.

"That is certainly my intention and the board's intention, we want to give them longer contracts."

West has been on a month deal since the end of last season when his previous contract ended. He has always said he is happy to stay at Turf Moor and the current player of the year is a key part of Ternent's plans.

The same can be said of Beresford who was on the losing side for the first time for Burnley this season having had the first month in goal for York City.

His form has been outstanding with a string of great saves in recent weeks.

Meanwhile the Clarets other keeper, Nik Michopoulos, ends his loan spell at Crystal Palace today and Ternent said: "I am not sure what the position is with their other keepers and we will look at that.

"But Nik needs to be playing."

Ternent's other players will be in action tomorrow night and he is backing them to react in the right way to the disappointment of seeing their long unbeaten run ended by Portsmouth.

The Clarets travel to Grimsby Town and the manager, back in the dug-out after three games insisted: "The players have done extremely well but all good things must come to an end.

"I didn't expect to go through the season without losing another game and now we have to react in the right way. I know the players and they will react in a positive way.

"All in all it was a fair result because their finishing was more clinical but we didn't get a break even though we gave it a right good go.

"It was extremely disappointing to lose but we will crack on."

Ternent was forced to withdraw Ian Moore, one of his three man strike force, in favour of midfielder Paul Weller after taking an early pounding from impressive Portsmouth but he insists they will be going for the throat at struggling Grimsby.

He said: "We will go out there and try to play good football and score goals. We have got good attacking options and players.

"If you are not creating that can be a big problem but we had a lot of chances on Saturday. It could have been different but it wasn't."

Having lost to the league leaders at the weekend it will be a very different test against the Mariners but Ternent is confident his players will do him proud.