with Stephen Cummings

SECOND in the league. Averaging two points a game. And scoring goals for fun. With those kind of statistics, you might have thought that the last thing the Clarets need is almost a fortnight without a game. Think again.

Since Glen Little and Alan Moore limped out of action down at Norwich, Burnley have, for the most part, been a pale imitation of the swashbuckling side which exploded out of the blocks at the season's start. One point from the last nine testifies to that.

And, without belittling the achievement, the second half Lazarus-like comeback against Crewe was more about sheer bloody-mindedness than attacking guile. That is not to suggest that Burnley are a two-man team. Far from it. Let's just say that if Burnley's opponents could hand-pick the players they would like removed from the Clarets' starting line-up, then numbers seven and 28 would feature prominently. For a number of reasons.

With Moore and Little in the side, Burnley have genuine width. The addition of Alan Moore to the squad also gives the team something it lacked last season -- balance, which crucially defines the team's shape as a whole.

With their wide men, the Clarets had previously deployed an attack-minded 4-4-2 formation, causing problems for the opposition on both flanks. Down at the Hawthorns on Saturday, the pair's absence was keenly felt. Burnley had to switch to a 3-5-2 formation, but wing backs Briscoe and West were unable to make much headway going forward.

Nor did the Clarets have any joy trying to make something happen through the middle of the park. The central triumvirate of Cook, Weller and Ball were well shackled by their West Brom counterparts. Ternent may well have gone down to the West Midlands with attacking intentions, but a combination of the factors outlined above prevented him from doing so.

Hopefully, in the period between now and the Nottingham Forest fixture on Saturday week, both Moore and Little will make speedy recoveries. If only one regains fitness, let us hope it is Little. His unpredictability, creativity and ability to petrify the opposition make him the heartbeat of the team.

In the meantime, let's keep our fingers crossed that a creative central midfield player is one of the targets Ternent hinted he may be bringing to Turf Moor in the not-too-distant future. At least that way if the wide men are injured other options will be available.