DESPITE facing a Tranmere side reduced to nine men Ronnie Jepson's Clarets side had to settle for a point in the reserve clash at Turf Moor last night.

In a physical contest the goals came in the opening half with Mark Rasmussen giving Burnley the lead, only for Seyni N'Diaye to grab an equaliser for Rovers.

The Clarets suffered an early blow as striker Andy Payton had to be stretchered off with a serious injury following a challenge by Sean Thornton.

"It was a physical game and I felt my side stood up to the task well," said reserves team boss Jepson. "We were bright in the first 25 minutes and by half-time we could have had three or four goals, but in the second half we got a little bit sloppy.

"I took Tony Ellis off and gave some of the younger lads a chance and really it is a question of them learning the art of opening up a defence.

"It can be a hard job trying to beat a packed defence, which is what Tranmere did after they had a man sent off, and we didn't really produce the kind of movement needed to open them up.

"Credit to Tranmere because they made us work hard and it was another step on the learning curve for our younger players."

Anthony Shandran was brought on to replace Payton, who needed five minutes treatment on the pitch before being carried off.

After Payton's departure it took a little time for the game to spark, but Burnley then took the lead when Rasmussen beat the offside trap to collect Joel Pilkington's through ball and finish well.

The Clarets position looked all the stronger when on 26 minutes, Tranmere's Phillip Barker was shown the red card for a trip on Papadopoulos.

Mark McGregor went close to adding to the lead following good work from Papadopoulos.

Tranmere almost equalised when Thornton sent Stuart Barlow clear, but Clarets keeper Luigi Cennamo made a fine save.

However, Rovers pulled level soon after when N'Diaye was put clear and he finished well.

In the second period N'Diaye went close with a drive, while Rasmussen could have had a second goal after Papadopoulos squared the ball to him inside the area but his shot was cleared.

Late in the game Tranmere were reduced to nine men when defender James Olsen was booked for a second time after a foul on Andy Leeson but they managed to hold out for the final five minutes.

Burnley: Cennamo, McGregor, Branch, Davis, Armstrong, Pilkington, Papadopoulos (Leeson, 65) Waine, Ellis (O'Neill, 58) Payton (Shandran, 2) Rasmussen.

Tranmere: Murphy, Morgan (Taylor, 75) Hinds, Olsen, Baker, Sharps, Thornton, Rideout, Parkinson, N'Diaye (Harrison, 85) Barlow.

BURNLEY RES...1 TRANMERE RES...1