BURNLEY dropped out of the two automatic promotion spots for the first time since mid-November as Manchester City and Wolves boosted their Premiership charge.

Both sides won yesterday and Clarets manager Stan Ternent may act quickly to bring in a new face for his strikeforce this week as he looks to keep the pressure on the top two and following yet another injury blow.

Frontman Dimitri Papadopoulos became the latest name on the casualty list after he limped off during Saturday's goalless encounter at Wimbledon.

Although it didn't look serious for the Greek, who is due on Under 21 international later this month, it's another head-ache for Ternent already struggling with the absence through injury of Gareth Taylor (ankle), Glen Little (hamstring) and Andy Payton (gashed leg) up front, not to mention Paul Weller (hamstring) and the long term casualties Steve Davis and Mitchell Thomas.

"Dimi took a whallop on the side of his leg. We did not want to take a chance with that," said Ternent who took his substitute off after 30 minutes.

Ironically, an injury to Southampton striker James Beattie could scupper plans to bring Kevin Davies to Turf Moor.

The Clarets and Sheffield United have both been linked with a move for the Saints striker - once bought by Blackburn for £7.5m before returning to Southampton - as he has slipped down the pecking order at St Mary's.

But freescoring Beattie dislocated his ankle in the 3-1 defeat against Manchester United yesterday, and that could lead to a recall for Davies.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Clarets on Saturday at Selhurst Park - known as a previous happy hunting ground for the Turf Moor outfit - as they made it three League games without a win although the other side of the coin is now one loss in 13 games.

And Ternent slammed the pitch, which is used by both Wimbledon and Crystal Palace.

"We are happy to get a point but I thought it was an ugly match, I didn't think it was a very entertaining game at all," he said.

"The surface is diabolical in my view with the traffic it has on it and it certainly isn't conducive to passing the ball around. I had to make a couple of changes to the way I wanted to play as the game progressed so all in all I think it is a point well deserved."

Ternent started with in-form hit man Ian Moore - with seven goals in the last six games - up front alone but, as the five packed in midfield got little change from the Dons, Ternent threw Alan Moore up front alongside Ian and then Papadopoulos followed by Tony Ellis.

But they could still only muster one shot on target - an Ian Moore 25 yard effort - and Ternent laid the blame on the surface but could still afford a smile at picking up what could be a crucial point.

"It was scrappy, the ball was in the air all the time and it wasn't conducive to a good match for the spectators but we will take the positives out of it," said the Clarets chief.

"The players showed a good appetite for it as they could not have enjoyed it very much.

"And the other positive is the point after the Manchester City situation it sets us up for a home match and hopefully we can crack on and be there or thereabouts in another 19 games time."