Six of the worst!

There is no doubt that Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and Saturday's opponents Wolves are the best teams in the league, just look at this morning's table for confirmation.

And for the sixth time this season the Clarets ended up with nothing to show for their efforts against them.

Manchester City have put nine past Stan Ternent's team, the Baggies recorded two clean sheets and at both Molineux and Turf Moor Wolves led 3-0 at the break - although on Saturday it was the classic game of two halves.

When you play a side that can leave a £3million striker, Kenny Miller, on the bench the least you need is an even break.

But in one crazy minute the Clarets hopes went west, or to be more accurate they were speared by a Knight.

Clarets boss Ternent did well to control his anger after the game, although he did fail in his initial pledge not to talk about Barry Knight's refereeing performance.

The official comes from Orpington in Kent but you could be forgiven for thinking that is a suburb of Wolverhampton. Every key decision went one way.

"I was not happy with him and I don't want to talk about him because I have not got enough money," he said. But he could not help himself as he promptly spent several minutes reflecting on the decisions that undoubtedly contributed to the Clarets latest damaging defeat.

The first decision was arguably the worst. Just eight minutes had gone when Paul Gascoigne delivered a great free-kick that Gareth Taylor rose to head home as he challenged keeper Michael Oakes.

It was a classic centre forward's goal and should have been his 16th goal of the season. Everyone knows that keepers are over protected but if that type of challenge was not allowed the likes of Clarets legend Billy Hamilton would have had a nightmare.

To compound the misery seconds later Burnley were behind as Mr Knight's assistant Mr Mason somehow missed two offsides in the move down the right that ended with Dean Sturridge scoring.

"I have just seen the video and the first goal was offside," complained Ternent through gritted teeth although he was in no mood to excuse his defenders' sloppiness that allowed Sturridge to net a second in the 26th minute.

When Colin Cameron lashed home another in first half stoppage time it looked like game over but it was far from it.

Ternent had big decisions to make at the break and he made them. Paul Gascoigne had impressed from dead balls and rolled back the years with one mazy run but once again the game was all too often passing him by. Alex Rae and Cameron make a midfield pairing to match any in the division and they relished taking on the England legend.

So Gazza came off and Glen Little was thrown into the action along with Ian Moore who replaced leading scorer Taylor.

The effect was immediate as Moore stooped to nod home a free kick from Lee Briscoe for his 13th goal of the season. The pairing of Moore and David Johnson had impressed against both Preston and Bradford City and they immediately clicked again.

The force was with the Clarets and Kevin Ball shot at the keeper but Mr Knight had not finished his erratic afternoon.

Just before the hour Alan Moore and Gunnar Halle went up for a ball, both fell down and Moore's trailing boot certainly appeared to catch the Norwegian in the face.

His manager Dave Jones confirmed: "He has got a cut and his teeth are a bit mashed but he will be okay."

The question therefore had to be was there any intent. Ternent was certainly confused as he recalled the horror clash that had concussed Little a few weeks ago.

"The two players went up and the ref gave a free kick but he did not seem concerned until one of their players went across and started giving it the big one," he said.

The upshot was that Moore became only the second Claret to see red this season after Gordon Armstrong's dismissal against Manchester City back in August.

So for the second time everyone assumed it was game over but for the second time everyone was wrong.

Ternent shuffled his depleted pack and put Dean West in a back three alongside Mitchell Thomas and Arthur Gnohere, kept four men in midfield and left the remaining Moore and Johnson to threaten the opposing defence with their pace and darting runs.

Throughout the second half it was the Burnley from the first half of the season, passing the ball well, pressing the opposition and fraying the nerves of the 5000 fans who had travelled from the Black Country.

The Clarets possibly took advantage of Wolves turning one eye towards this afternoon's game with Manchester City but it was similar to the match at Molineux when they showed a vast improvement after the break.

Moore shot over after Oakes had blocked Johnson's break into the box and five minutes from time the pair combined on the edge of the area for Johnson to fire home his third goal in four starts.

That set up a grandstand finish and the home side did create more pressure but the final ball and the final cross was not there.

The relief among the old gold shirts was palpable but the ovation for the Clarets spoke volumes. That second half display now needs to be produced for 90 minutes if they are to hold off the chasing pack.

Ternent wasted little time in getting to see Mr Knight and there is one safe bet - he was not wishing him a Happy Easter!

BURNLEY...2

Scorers: I Moore 47, Johnson 85

WOLVES...3

Scorers: Sturridge 9, 26,

Cameron 45

At Turf Moor

Attendance...21,823