BURNLEY'S win at the weekend delighted Blackpool boss Steve McMahon who had little else to cheer despite his own side's triumph.

The former England star faces a major defensive crisis ahead of tonight's Worthington Cup first round tie at Turf Moor but he was still able to send Stan Ternent his best wishes.

"I was delighted that Burnley won on Saturday and I was delighted for Stan," he explained.

"It is never nice to see a fellow manager under pressure like Stan has been. I am pleased they won and I think it is going to be a cracking game tonight."

But his preparations for the Lancashire derby have been badly hit by a host of injuries to his central defenders and the unavailability of one key loan star.

Peter Clarke was an unused sub for the England Under-21 side last Friday and the promising youngster is not being allowed to play for the Seasiders by his club Everton, in case they should need him at some stage during the competition.

That was a big blow on top of the loss of skipper John Hughes who is unlikely to play after limping off with a strain just 30 minutes into the 3-0 defeat of Tranmere on Saturday.

Another defender Chris Clarke then tore a hamstring in the last minute and is definitely ruled out while Brian Reid, who played for Ternent in his first season at Turf Moor, is struggling with a back injury.

An injury to left back Tommy Jaszczun further complicates matters but he is expected to be fit for the fray.

Versatile defenders John O'Kane and former Rovers player Simon Grayson may be forced to form a makeshift central defensive pairing with midfielders Danny Coid and John Hills offering alternatives for the full back positions.

McMahon at least had some better news in attack where last season's leading scorer John Murphy played an hour after returning from injury and could be set to partner Scott Taylor with this summer's Clarets trialist Paul Dalglish dropped to the bench.