SUPER sub Andy Payton came off the bench to earn Burnley a dramatic 3-3 draw against Crewe last night and promptly backed the strikers who are keeping him on the bench.

"Ian Moore and Gareth Taylor have been doing brilliantly, both scoring goals," he said. "I know it is a squad game and they are younger.

"I am a 33-year-old but I know I can still do a job. I am just delighted to be here, playing for Burnley."

It was another roller-coaster ride for the Clarets at Turf Moor. They trailed 2-0 at the break, pulled back to all square eight minutes from time before gifting Crewe what looked like a stoppage time winner.

That was the cue for Payton, who had already scored from the spot, to do what he does best, netting from ten yards to make it 3-3.

"Payts is Payts," was manager Stan Ternent's succinct appraisal of the "Padiham Predator" who is now just two strikes away from 200 league goals having netted three times from the bench this season.

And having called on his squad players to impress him in the absence of injured key men Glen Little and Alan Moore he was delighted with the response.

"John Mullin did extremely well when he came on," said Ternent and it was the arrival of the two subs that helped change the course of the match.

Mullin has struggled to get in the first team this season, his only start coming in the disappointing Worthington Cup defeat by Rushden and Diamonds.

But having replaced Paul Cook at the break he showed hunger and desire as a series of surging runs caused panic in the Crewe defence.

The squad players will continue to be needed as Ternent acknowledged that his injury problems are not getting any better with a tricky away trip to West Brom looming on Saturday.

"At this stage Glen Little and Alan Moore have no chance," he confessed. "We have a lot of injuries at the moment but that is part and parcel of the game.

"Gordon (Armstrong) played with a bit of a strain and that was why he came off for Mitchell (Thomas)."

Of equal concern was a dismal first half that was even worse than the slow start at Norwich on Saturday. "The first half by our standards was not very good," Ternent conceded. "But Crewe did very well and deserve some credit."

Visiting manager Dario Gradi felt they deserved more than credit and was in no doubt that his side had lost two points rather than gained one.

His opposite number was just relieved to have got something from a game that Burnley twice looked certain to lose, when they trailed at the break and then conceded what looked like a last gasp winner.

"We have come back twice and got a point and at the end of the season that might prove to be a very important point for us," he said.

For now that point should at least guarantee that Burnley will kick off on Saturday on top.