STAN Ternent has called on his players to stand up and be counted - to make sure he keeps his job!

"We have all got to crack on and that means the players," he said ahead of tomorrow's clash with big-spending Wolves.

"I am the manager but if they are good, I look good, if they are indifferent, I'm indifferent but if they are poor - I'm sacked."

His players were certainly poor last weekend and he is looking for a marked improvement on the disappointing opening day display against Brighton.

But at the same time he insisted: "There is absolutely no need to panic, I just hope they will all perform better.

"Even if we have no points after four, five or six games it is not all over. There would still be 40 games to go."

He has been delighted by the way all the players have responded to his stinging criticism in training this week, including striker Robbie Blake.

He was singled out by Ternent for "playing like he had divers' boots on" but the manager admitted: "Robbie took it the right way and I could have said that about a lot of them.

"Only two or three played anywhere near what they are capable of but all that has gone. The players know they were way below par for whatever reason but that has gone. But that is gone, that is history.

"What I said was for the benefit of the press and the fans. The players get that stuff from me all the time, they know what I expect.

"They have worked well in training this week but they worked well before the last game. They have worked hard every day but they now need to do it out on the pitch.

"We had a good match at Everton this week and that was just what they needed."

Ternent knows his team is up against history when they run out at Molineux as Wolves have won ten straight games against the Clarets, nine in the League and the Sherpa Van Trophy Final at Wembley in 1988.

"They have a hoodoo sign over us and I know we have not beaten them for a long time," he admitted. "But that has got to change sometime.

"I think they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Dave Jones has strengthened his squad with quality and experience and given an even break they have got a chance."

The two clubs have equally proud traditions with their greatest days many years ago but they are not on a level playing field at the moment.

With gates of around 28,000 and the backing of wealthy Sir Jack Hayward, Wolves have not been hit as hard as most by the collapse of ITV Digital although manager Dave Jones has not spent any money this summer.

He has added Paul Ince, Denis Irwin and Ivar Ingimarsson without paying any transfer fees and the depth of his squad is shown by the fact that Ince has yet to figure.

In contrast Ternent is down to his last 16 senior pros meaning the squad, if not the team, picks itself.

Even within that squad there are a couple of problems as he said: "Glen Little has got a slight strain and Paul Weller is feeling his knee but both should be involved. Also Alan Moore is available after suspension.

"Tony Grant won't make it because he has hurt a bone in his foot. Brad Maylett is still out and Gordon Armstrong strained his hamstring against Everton.

"But whatever way up you look at it we have still got a good squad of players. I am just looking for a marked improvement."

If they don't improve Ternent has repeated his threat to turn to his young players and he insisted: "I would do it. I'd rather lose with kids having a go if the first team doesn't perform."