STAN TERNENT left Turf Moor on Saturday evening feeling like an angler whose big catch had got away.

Unfortunately for the Clarets boss his big fish came back to take a bite out of his boat and sink his side in the process.

It is no secret that he tried to land Shefki Kuqi from Stockport County after the Finnish striker was impressive for the Hatters at Turf Moor a month ago.

But the bid was not high enough for County and it was the cash strapped Owls who swooped with a £1million move that has already started to pay a dividend.

They have won the last two league games with Kuqi in the side and Saturday's win was their first away from home since October.

"We missed out on Shefki Kuqi and we know he is a real handful," admitted Ternent. "He played particularly well against us."

And Terry Yorath was also quick to praise the man he has gambled on to fire his side away from the relegation zone.

"He worked and worked and worked," he said. "He is not embarrassed to run around and chase things and he deserved his goal."

That strike, two minutes into the seven allowed for stoppage time at the end of the game, came about as the visitors once again found joy by piling through Burnley's soft centre.

There should not have been much trouble with a routine knock forward by Leigh Bromby but Kuqi powered past Arthur Gnohere and found a precise finish at the end of his run.

In the dying seconds it was a a case of deja vu as Kuqi again got the wrong side of Gnohere and this time he was tripped in the box. Two things looked certain and referee Mike Pike duly pointed to the spot for the penalty.

The surprise was that the card for Gnohere was yellow not red and Ternent admitted: "Arthur could have seen red but the referee used his loaf a bit."

The Clarets were also spared further punishment when Gerald Sibon's tame effort was held by Nik Michopoulos but there was not enough time for a desperate last attack in search of an equaliser.

Gnohere has done very well this season but twice he was nowhere as he was bettered by Kuqi on those two occasions and Ternent said: "Arthur is still a young lad but he has got to improve quickly for me."

The defender appeared in the first half in a pair of white boots that blended in with his socks but at the interval he changed his footwear. Sadly the new boots did not have the desired affect.

But skipper Ian Cox also had an uncomfortable time alongside him and his slip almost gifted Paul McClaren an opening goal after 22 minutes. As happened all too often it was a simple ball that Cox failed to clear and McClaren wasted the chance.

Eleven minutes later he made no mistake with another ball down the middle, a hoof from keeper Kevin Pressman, Kuqi and Efan Ekoku made a nuisance of themselves and McClaren swept home the loose ball.

It was a goal that could have sparked a game that started slowly in very blustery conditions. It didn't.

Burnley did go close to levelling when Gareth Taylor fed Alan Moore to his left and the Irishman broke forward and unleashed a fierce shot that flew over after hitting the top of the bar.

Playing into the wind in the second half Burnley were penned back for long periods, not least by Bromby's long throws, and Kuqi could have doubled the lead in the opening seconds after hesitation between Gnohere and Michopoulos. It was not the first time the pair had got into a muddle.

Brad Maylett had come on at the break for Graham Branch and he tried to inject some much needed urgency into the home side but it did not happen.

It was hard to see where a Burnley goal would come from but they were given a helping hand from Owls defender Ashley Westwood 14 minutes from time.

He inexplicably rose to meet Alan Moore's cross with his hand up in the air and referee Mike Pike had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Paul Cook, Andy Payton and Glen Little have all scored from the spot for Burnley this season but with none of them on the pitch it was Taylor who took responsibility. The man who had scored nine goals with his head this term duly did the business with his right foot and the stage was set for a thrilling finish.

Westwood nearly gifted them another goal with a back pass that allowed Taylor to challenge Pressman and the experienced keeper needed lengthy treatment before being replaced by the unknown South African youngster Sean Roberts in goal.

Ternent felt that the delay took the momentum away from his side and certainly in the closing minutes there looked like only being one winner, the side battling relegation rather than the one chasing promotion.

Inspired by the craft and guile of Sibon they again penned Burnley back and there was little surprise when Kuqi struck the winner, no matter that it was a soft goal to concede.

As happened earlier in the season when Glen Little was out, there was a lack of spark from Burnley and it is no surprise that Ternent is hoping to secure the services of the skilful Robbie Blake.

He will be hoping that he is not another catch that will get away!

BURNLEY...1 (Taylor pen 76)

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY...2 (McClaren 33, Kuqi 90)

Attendance: 16,081