WEDNESDAY 2 Hendon 41, Sibon 70 (pen) BURNLEY 0 Sheffield Wednesday's demise could hardly have been more clearly illustrated than by Burnley manager Stan Ternent's blast at his own team.

Ternent admitted that Wednesday had shown more desire for the points with the suggestion that too many of his own players were in the comfort zone having guaranteed their own First Division survival.

Who would have imagined a little over 12 months ago that it would be the Owls, a Premiership club for the last nine years, rather than Burnley scrapping to stay in the First Division ?

It was, however, no source of pride for Ternent, who was furious at another poor away-day performance which resulted in a tenth defeat of the season outside Turf Moor.

He said: "We were lacklustre. I think they're resting on their laurels a little. I've told them what I think and it isn't good enough.

"We had 2,000-plus fans here again.

"And it's not losing, it's how you lose that is important to me and I felt today that a lot of our players rolled over.

"It just wasn't good enough for me and there's no reason for it because it's a fantastic stadium, it's a great place to come, Sheffield are scrapping for their lives and if we go about it in the right way there's no pressure on our lads at all.

"It's all on Sheffield Wednesday and they've done particularly well today, but in my book they were hungrier and wanted it more than we did."

Wednesday look certain to avoid a second successive relegation thanks to the inspired run they have enjoyed since Peter Shreeves replaced Paul Jewell at the Hillsborough helm.

The Owls are giving little away and have a useful midfield blend of craft and graft.

And in Andy Booth and Efan Ekoku they boast an impressive strikeforce, Ekoku earning the 70th-minute penalty which guaranteed a fifth win in seven games under Shreeves after Ian Hendon had put them ahead just before half-time.

Burnley actually dealt well with the pair and the Clarets' back four deserved to escape Ternent's tongue-lashing.

But up front the visitors could have done with some of Wednesday's vigour to bring about a much-needed improvement in their disappointing strike-rate.

Ternent's side have managed just 15 goals away from home all season and since Andy Payton scored in successive matches at the end of January, only two goals have come from front players in the nine games since.

"The hardest thing to do is score a goal.

"In the last minute or two of the game we had three fantastic crosses went in the box and nobody wants to get on the end of it," said Ternent.

Payton may be due another chance to weigh up his potential partnership alongside Gareth Taylor, who, in my book, would still be a decent long-term investment given the budget Burnley appear to be working with.

No matter who plays up front, though, they need to be given chances and the Clarets were found wanting in the creativity stakes.

The 4-3-3 formation that had worked so well at Watford wasn't as effective as the forward players didn't see or keep enough of the ball to test the Wednesday defence, while the midfield was at times over-run, particularly when Ian Hendon got forward from the back for the home side.

Ternent added: "We didn't play well enough, certainly in the first half. We were very poor by our standards.

"We weren't at the races in the first half.

"Sheffield weren't a lot better but they scored the goal. The players were complaining that it might have been off-side.

"From where I was I couldn't tell but the linesman didn't give it so it's a goal.

"In the second half we improved a little, especially in the last 20 minutes, but the game had gone from us by then and I think that Sheffield fully deserved to win the match."

When Burnley matched the hosts' 4-4-2 after the break they had their best spells but despite some decent little bursts of possession and some highly promising positions they failed to even bring a save out of keeper Kevin Pressman.

Whether it's poor delivery or poor movement, the Clarets aren't picking out strikers in the box and Ian Moore in particular may be feeling the frustration.

Wednesday were more direct and almost went ahead after 18 minutes when the impressive Booth flicked on for Trond Soltvedt.

The on-loan midfielder let the ball run on and then unleashed a volley that he thought was in until Nik Michopoulos flung himself to his right to make an excellent save.

At the other end John Mullin flicked an effort just wide and Lee Briscoe went close to punishing his former club with a curling free-kick which Pressman turned round the post at full stretch before Michopoulos was called into action again.

The keeper made another fine reflex stop but four minutes before half-time he was beaten when Hendon ran onto Gerald Sibon's through-ball to lash home a shot via the underside of the bar.

Burnley responded well after the break as they lifted the tempo and forced Wednesday back.

The Owls held firm, however, and broke away on 69 minutes to seal the points.

Ian Cox was perhaps unlucky to clip Ekoku's heels but could have no complaints about the decision to award a penalty which Sibon converted.

Steve Davis's late long-range effort that finally stirred Pressman was therefore too little too late and the Clarets desperately need to find some goals and some consistency to end their season on a high note.