LENNY Johnrose is facing a battle to shake off a bout of concussion, while his team-mates must haul themselves off the ropes against Millwall on Saturday if Burnley's promotion fight is to go the last round.

The Clarets were sent reeling by a 3-0 defeat to top-six rivals Gillingham last night and to make matters worse, key man Johnrose ended the night in hospital following a blow to the head.

Manager Stan Ternent will have to monitor his progress for the remainder of the week before another heavyweight clash against the third-placed Lions, which Burnley seemingly must win to keep alive their top-two hopes.

"Lenny had double vision and was concussed," Ternent confirmed.

"He went up to the hospital and we'll see how he is. But unfortunately I had made the changes and we finished up with 10 men.

"Lenny's a very influential player for us so all round it's been a bad evening. But we will see how we react to it."

Burnley had the chance to go second in the table but failed to improve on their record of just one win against top-six opposition this season after Dean West's mistake paved the way for a comfortable Gillingham victory.

Ty Gooden punished the full-back's error and the Gills added headed goals from Barry Ashby and Paul Smith from second-half corners as Burnley failed to find a way through a packed visitors' defence.

It was a crushing blow for the majority of a bumper crowd of 17,026, and for the players themselves.

Clarets captain Steve Davis confirmed: "They came out in their droves and we appreciate their support.

"They are disappointed but I can tell them from the dressing room that we are disappointed as well.

"It's a two-way thing but we'll try and bounce back and hopefully on Saturday with their support we'll get the right result." Gillingham moved to within a point of fifth-placed Burnley with a game in hand to give themselves a chance of automatic promotion.

Yet despite the outcome and the manner of the defeat the Clarets aren't out of the picture either, although they may still need another couple of wins just to guarantee a play-off spot.

Looking at the table in the cold light of day, Burnley remain just two points behind Millwall and second-placed Wigan with the Londoners still to face both Burnley and Gillingham.

Games are running out and Ternent's men will have to have more about them than they did last night to have any chance of pulling it off, but the manager remains bullish.

He said: "We're still in the thick of things. Obviously we would have liked to have won the game, or perhaps not lost it, but that's how it goes and we need to re-group and crack on again on Saturday.

"Gillingham are a good side, but so are Burnley. It was Gillingham's night but we're still in the shake-up, we're still in front of them on points and we're still in the top half-dozen.

"It is a setback because we would have liked to have won the game, but I still say we will be there or thereabouts at the death.

"The players won't be found wanting for character. It was a bad night at the office, you might say, and how we react to it is the most important thing now. But they have done it all season. I've got good players and there's no reason why they shouldn't do it again."

Ternent added: "After 46 matches we'll have a count-up and if there are recriminations then well fine, but I think that the players at the club have done extremely well this season.

"They are way ahead of schedule in my book, although for the supporters last night it is extremely frustrating.

"We can't do anything about it, as much as we would like to, but Saturday is another day. We still have games to play, there are still points to be played for so we will see."

The Clarets reserves will send out another youthful line-up to take on Stoke City in the Pontins League at Turf Moor tonight (kick-off 7.15).

Burnley reserves: Mawson, Leeson, Williamson, Heywood, Scott, Pilkington, Kelly, Kevan, Devenney, Maylett, Shandran, E Davis, Waine, Barrett, O'Neill, Paxton.