STAN Ternent's preparations for the promotion run-in were hit yesterday when the reserve team's clash with Preston North End was called off.

Their Lancashire rivals play their home games at Lancaster City's Giant Axe ground but the waterlogged pitch denied a number of players a chance to enjoy some important match practice.

Club skipper Steve Davis, Robbie Blake, Mitchell Thomas and Andy Payton were all possible starters against North End as they look for sharpness following injuries.

Davis was a shock inclusion on the Burnley bench on Tuesday night and played the whole of the second half. Ternent admitted the outing will have done him good but it is the only competitive football he has played since injuring his knee at Gillingham five months ago.

Yesterday's postponement followed the rearrangement of the previous week's game against West Bromwich Albion and that will be the reserves next match when the Baggies visit Turf Moor next Wednesday.

Meanwhile the club has confirmed that Marlon Beresford will continue at Turf Moor for another month after having his loan extended by Middlesbrough.

The former hero recorded his 300th appearance for the club in the victory at Crewe on Saturday and he was the star player in the disappointing defeat at the hands of Birmingham City on Tuesday night.

With Nik Michopoulos back in training following his calf injury, Ternent could soon have a decision to make and he admitted: "That is the sort of problem it is nice to have."

Michopoulos is another man who may have featured in the reserves last night but with Beresford in such good form there is no need to rush him back before he is ready.

Boro boss Steve McClaren can afford to allow Beresford to stay out on loan because of the return to fitness of Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer.

THE first division race is looking increasingly like a scramble for the play-off places following Manchester City's 4-0 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday at Maine Road.

Wolves and City are now clear at the top with eight teams in with a realistic chance of filling the next four places.