Clarets boss Stan Ternent believes talk of route-one football is out of place at Turf Moor as Burnley try to play their way to promotion from Division Two.

Ternent's approach to the game has often been scrutinised by critics, who believe Bury played basic football in their escape from the lower divisions of the Football League.

But Ternent, who took the Shakers into Division One and kept them up before joining Burnley 18 months ago, believes such a label isn't justified.

"That's a load of rubbish," insisted the Clarets, boss who nurtured international players like David Johnson, Paul Butler and goalkeeper Dean Kiely during his days at Gigg Lane.

And having got over the traumas of last season when survival was the name of the game for Burnley, Ternent has now settled on a creative midfield quartet of Glen Little, Paul Cook, John Mullin and Micky Mellon, playing in front of an attack-minded central defender in Steve Davis.

"We like to pass the ball and we like to play," insisted the Burnley boss, whose side has turned on the style in winning eight of their 10 home games.

"We are creating a lot of chances and sooner or later they are going to go in, like they did against Wrexham.

"But you have got to be able to play different ways." Ternent added: "Last year was difficult and I was very frustrated. It was a depressing year because I was used to trying to win something.

"I feel we have turned the corner to some degree but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

"The whole structure of the playing side is stronger in my view and it will keep getting stronger if I get my way.

"That's what Burnley supporters are after. They are after good players and they want to win with a bit of style.

"That's the way football is played at Burnley."

While some of the stop-gap signings of last season struggled to improve Burnley's lot, the permanent arrivals who started to come in 12 months ago have helped turn Burnley into promotion candidates.

Alan Lee has played more of a supporting role than others since his six-figure transfer from Aston Villa in the summer.

But his goal and all-round performance in the mid-week defeat at Wigan suggested that the Republic of Ireland under-21 international could play a more significant part in the second half of the season.

"He played very well and I'm sure that goal will help his confidence. I bought him as one for the future. He's not the finished article but we are spending a lot of time with him and he's making decent progress," said Ternent.

Meanwhile, Ternent was set to renew acquaintainces with Derby County midfielder Craig Burley at Pride Park this afternoon. The pair worked together at Chelsea but were in opposition today when Burnley were looking to pull off an FA Cup shock and end Burley's interest in the competition at the third-round stage.

"The Cup is a confidence-builder if you get the right result but it's a potential banana skin as well. Burnley are on a decent run with a lot of good, experienced players," admitted Burley, who twice helped Chelsea reach the Cup final.

"I worked with Stan Ternent at Chelsea in about 1993 when I was a youngster coming into the team. He was assistant manager to Ian Porterfield. He was only there a few months but he seems straight down the line.

"Even though I've been in Scotland I know quite a bit about these teams. I know Burnley is quite a big club and they're doing a wee bit better this season," he added.

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