IRRESPECTIVE of form and fitness, Clarets boss Stan Ternent is demanding one thing ahead of tomorrow's clash with Crystal Palace - commitment.

"That is what I demand and that is what the fans deserve," he said. "I wasn't happy the other night because the players didn't put it in. There was not enough endeavour and commitment.

"With all due respect to Reading, if the players I have had play to their potential they will beat them. That is why I was embarrassed. I was not happy with the way a lot of players performed.

"There has been indifference in their performances but I know the players are there, we will get it right."

While he remained unhappy with the display at the Madejski he maintained: "We do need a little rub of the green."

With no points on the board Burnley boss Ternent knows he has not got many more options ahead of tomorrow's crucial clash with Crystal Palace at Turf Moor.

"I know I have got a squad of 16 because I counted them this morning," he admitted with a wry smile.

The big question will be how will he deploy the players at his disposal in order to get that priceless first win of the season.

"I know my team," he added with another grin although, in typical style, that will be kept under wraps until just before kick-off.

Even then his formation may remain a mystery until the match starts as he has tried a number of permutations in the hope of getting the Clarets season going. Only three days ago he swapped from 45-1 to 4-4-2 and finally 3-4-3 as he searched for the system to best suit the players at his disposal.

One thing is certain is that he is without the suspended pair of Arthur Gnohere, who is finishing his three match ban, and Paul Cook, who is starting his.

In addition Gordon Armstrong and Bradley Maylett are definitely out while Ternent admitted: "I don't think Steve Davis will make it. He is still suffering from the knock he got on his calf from Incey, although it was not a bad challenge."

Ternent was happy with the way a number of his senior players performed for the reserves in midweek and it is possible the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Blake and Dimitri Papadopoulos will have a bigger role.

The manager does accept that the fans will have a big part to play tomorrow but he was full of praise for their support to date.

"They have been fantastic and they are just the same as me," he said. "It is not so much what I expect from the fans as what I expect from the players."

And amid the doom and gloom of the current situation he looked for inspiration from the achievement of West Brom last year.

Gary Megson's side won automatic promotion despite only taking one point from their first three games and Ternent insisted that showed what can still be done despite a poor start.

"Sooner or later we will win

a match," he said.