By PETE OLIVER DRIVING up a storm-lashed M6 made it feel like the end of the world was nigh, but Burnley's first defeat of the season shouldn't bring about the same sensation.

It would be a disappointment if more of that lightning was to strike a second time against Gillingham at Turf Moor this afternoon, but certainly going down by a single goal at Molineux was nowhere near enough to set the alarm bells ringing.

Indeed, it wouldn't be a surprise if Burnley play worse this season and win, such was the level of their performance.

"We're comfortable at this level. I feel we'll be fine. We've started quite well, although this one didn't go for us. But we played well enough," insisted manager Stan Ternent, who was adamant his side deserved something for their efforts.

There is still a slight question mark over the Clarets' goalscoring ability but again they had enough of the ball in their opponents' box and genuine chances late on in an away game to suggest that it needn't become a major problem.

However, it was no coincidence that the clearest sights of goal came with Andy Payton on the field, albeit at a time when Burnley had to throw caution to the wind, and he will need to be playing regularly to keep the Clarets heading in the right direction. "He's not quite match fit yet," explained Ternent after resisting the temptation to pitch the mid-week hat-trick hero straight back into the First Division fray after just two substitute's appearances since a broken toe.

Payton rose from the bench moments after Steve Sedgley had broken the deadlock 16 minutes from time and was instrumental in Burnley's search for an equaliser.

He went desperately close when meeting a Lee Briscoe cross with a downward header which Michael Oakes did very well to push round the post at full stretch.

And in an energetic finish he could well have won a penalty when Kevin Muscat caught him from behind as the striker moved towards a near-post cross.

"You don't get those decisions away from home," lamented Ternent, who would have received some sympathy from at least one Wolves fan behind the Press box who feared the worst.

Wolves went close to adding to their lead when Mitchell Thomas cleared off the line from Mohamed but they were also hanging on at the other end as Payton got the better of the enormous Manuel Thetis and wriggled to the by-line in the last minute.

He managed to pick out fellow substitute John Mullin but, at full tilt, Mullin couldn't direct his header downward and Burnley's last chance to preserve an unbeaten away League record stretching back to January 3 was gone.

Wolves boss Colin Lee admitted it had been a struggle but was nevertheless grateful for his side's first three points of the campaign. He confessed that Glen Little had caused problems and that Mitchell Thomas and Ian Cox had given little leeway to Robert Taylor and Temuri Ketsbaia respectively.

"Going man-to-man, with Steve Davis sweeping round, made it difficult," he said.

Burnley certainly have a solid base to work on with those three and Lee Briscoe and Paul Weller also did well in the wide positions.

The Clarets were never going to be overly gung-ho early on and they strung men out behind the ball to great effect.

Wolves couldn't find a way through and Burnley then broke effectively whenever the chance arose.

Little continued his impressive start to the season and Andy Cooke battled away well up front, although Thetis, signed on loan from Ipswich the afternoon before, was a major obstacle to pass.

The big stopper almost sold Oakes short one on occasion with a chested back-pass but Cooke's eagerness landed him only a booking instead of the goal he would have loved to have scored in front of a gang of Wolves-supporting friends from his neck of the woods.

Although neither keeper had a shot to save for over an hour it was an intruiging game finely balanced which at one stage looked as though it might yield maximum points for Burnley, never mind none at all.

Graham Branch added a bit of edge to the visitors' attack but couldn't hit the target from Briscoe's deep cross and Wolves then enjoyed a bout of pressure of their own which ultimately produced the winner.

Impressive defender Joleon Lescott had a header cleared off the line by Briscoe but 10 minutes later Burnley's defences were breached. The danger looked to have been quelled when Weller blocked George Ndah's goalbound header but when Ketsbaia retrieved the ball, Sedgley managed to get enough power on a scuffed shot to beat Briscoe's last line of defence.

That was the cue for Payton's arrival and although he couldn't pull it out of the fire, the flames of hope still burn brightly enough for Ternent's men.