HAVING picked up just two points and two goals from their last four games the Clarets have slipped to fifth in the first division.

Stan Ternent's squad has been hit by injuries and he has repeated his intention to strengthen his squad with talks set to continue with Bradford striker Robbie Blake this week.

The Clarets have also been linked with a loan move for Vitesse Arnhem's Belgian striker Bob Peeters.

But whoever is in the Clarets side when they line-up against West Brom in their next league game a week on Sunday, Ternent will demand a better display than Saturday's surrender to struggling Sheffield Wednesday.

"I was disappointed with the lads but they have been a credit to me, themselves and Burnley Football Club," he said. "But we have had a hiccup and we have got to be better.

"Over the next 18 games we will be better."

The Clarets still have at least one game in hand over the rest of the sides challenging for promotion but they have been passed by Manchester City, Wolves, Millwall and West Brom having started the year on top of the pile. They are now at their lowest point since November 10.

Sunday's FA Cup clash at Cheltenham offers Ternent the chance to regroup before returning to league action and he is hoping to have some new faces in.

"It is a question of whether players are available and what they cost," he said. "Sometimes they aren't available or the cost is prohibitive."

That applied to Stockport striker Shefki Kuqi who had a £1million price tag put on him when Ternent tried to sign him a couple of weeks ago. Sheffield Wednesday paid that sum and he duly scored the winner against Burnley on Saturday.

The deal for Blake is closer to completion and Ternent admitted: "Everything is fine with Bradford and I have spoken to Robbie and his representatives and I am hopeful that we will sort something out at some stage this week.

"He has got a stomach strain but it is not anything too serious although all transfers these days are subject to stringent medical tests.

"But we need to strengthen our squad and maybe take a player on loan if that opportunity presents itself."

That would tie in with rumours linking with a swoop for 27-year-old Peeters who is chasing a place in Belgium's World Cup squad.

As ever the club will remain tight-lipped on any deal until a deal has finally been completed but it is suggested the aim is to bring him in until the end of the season.

But despite the recent slide, Ternent can take heart from the way they bounced back from their other bad patch back in the autumn.

The current run is still only two defeats in 14 games and Ternent said: "We have come a long way in a short period of time but people feel we should press on.

"The object of the exercise remains to get promotion and if we can strengthen the squad we will certainly do it.

"But if it takes another year or another year, we will still do it."