THREE games, three defeats and no points - Burnley's record at the moment is definitely Iffy!

But the one thing that was really iffy on Saturday afternoon was their luck.

Once Blades striker Iffy Onuora had given his side a first half lead courtesy of a big deflection off Ian Cox, what the Clarets needed was an even break.

In contrast everything continued to go the way of the visitors.

Twice Burnley rapped the woodwork, in the dying seconds Ben Doane cleared from the line and the result was assured.

"Things are not going for us at the moment," admitted Clarets boss Stan Ternent, doing a nice line in understatement.

Mind you, at least they did get to finish the match with a full team on the pitch for the first time this season.

The second half was in Neil Warnock's words "like the Alamo". He believed that his side would have been 4-0 up before the break with more clinical finishing and even felt they had enough chances to increase their lead after the break.

But he acknowledged: "It was a game of two halves. The crowd got behind them, they hit the bar and the post and Paddy Kenny made a save that he made a meal of."

The supporters did play their part and there were none of the boos that could be heard during and after the Brighton game, an acceptance that when your luck is out, it is really out.

Imagine how Nik Michopoulos felt. He admitted before the game that he was desperate to keep a clean sheet having been at fault for goals in the opening two games and he would have had one but for the first big slice of bad luck.

The Blades had started well and the Greek Keeper made one good early save with hs legs at the near post to deny Jon Paul McGovern.

The visitors ensured he would be tested again but when the ball broke to Onuora 11 minutes before the break there looked to be little trouble. The big striker is not known for his long range goals and when he shot the danger looked to be covered. But as Michopoulos dived to his right the ball span to his left off Ian Cox and the ball rolled into the net.

It is not as if that was the first bit of bad luck on the day. Lee Briscoe had already been added to the growing injury list after coming off worse in an early challenge, Graham Branch coming on his place.

Ternent made another change at the interval with Paul Weller, still suffering from not having had a proper pre-season, was replaced by the first new signing of the season.

Okay, Lennie Johnrose is hardly a new kid on the Turf Moor block but it took him only 90 seconds to announce his return with a typically robust challenge.

As his manager admitted: "Weller was not doing it. When you are in a scrap, Johnrose is your man. I brought him back because we are short of numbers and had no hesitation putting him on. He is an exceptionally fit lad."

Johnrose was extremely unlucky not to get an equaliser when he rose above the defence to power in a header from Glen Little's corner only to see it go up in the air off the bar.

That was the second time that the Clarets had hit the woodwork, the first once again being from a header as Gareth Taylor's far post effort was deflected behind via the post.

The final hefty slice of bad luck came in the 89th minute when Ian Moore got on the end of a hooked ball by Johnrose but, after his header beat Paddy Kenny, sub Ben Doane was the man to clear the ball from the line.

That was a shame for Moore because, like his namesake Alan, he looks short on confidence and a first goal of the season would have done him the world of good.

Alan Moore was asked tom play a more central role and he struggled to make an impact save for one good run in the first half and it was no surprise when he made way for Andy Payton.

But one man who should not be lacking in confidence is defender Mark McGregor. His composed display alongside Ian Cox at the back was rewarded by the man of the match award and Ternent said: "He thoroughly deserved it and played very, very well."

With skipper Steve Davis injured and Arthur Gnohere suspended it was an untried central defensive pairing but they both did well. In fact at times, as Burnley piled forward, Cox spent most of his energy in attack leaving McGregor to mind the shop at the back.

Cox was eager to do an impression of Gnohere with his surging runs forward and one turn and cross was worthy of a tricky winger. But it was McGregor with a run and shot who tested Kenny although he saved reasonably comfortably under his bar.

Kenny is on an extended loan from Bury at Bramall Lane but he did more than enough to suggest he will earn a long term deal.

As for the Clarets long term prospects, perhaps more will be known after the trip to Reading tomorrow night.

They travel south still in search of their first point of the season and they will be hoping that Lady Luck will have a seat on the coach.