Payton keeps Ternent's men in promotion hunt

WITH the second half of the season not due to start until the next century, it's still a little early to be talking about critical results.

But this win was certainly bordering on the vital for Burnley, who can now pursue their high-interest FA Cup dealings safe in the knowledge that the day-to-day business is in good order.

A two-week break from the Second Division promotion race would have seemed a long wait to repair the damage of two dropped points, never mind the three that might have slipped away had Wycombe's usually prolific striker Sean Devine converted a dubious spot-kick with the scoreline goalless.

As it was, Andy Payton deepened Devine's embarrassment with his 10th-goal of the season 18 minutes from time to extend the Clarets' remarkable home record to eight wins in 10 games and keep them within five points of the in-form top two.

With away wins currently a little thin on the ground, and everyone around Burnley in the table seemingly on the crest of a wave, Payton's second goal in as many games couldn't have come at a better time.

After ending his drought against Wigan a week earlier, Payton suggested that his goals tend to come in bursts.

And the leading scorer was true to his word when he found the finishing touch that had threatened to undermine the Clarets' progress against a dogged Wycombe side that was always threatening on the break.

Despite playing well in patches rather than for sustained spells, Burnley will have taken as much satisfaction from this win as any other so far this season. Because as manager Stan Ternent admitted afterwards, picking up maximum points when not on the top of your game bodes well.

He also admitted that you need a bit of luck to succeed. And Burnley had their slice when Devine struck the post with his penalty 20 minutes into the second half.

Whether he should have even been given the chance to put Wycombe ahead is highly debatable as Paul Crichton's clumsy foul on Andrew Baird looked to be just outside the penalty area.

Either way, visiting teams rarely get a second bite of the cherry against a Clarets defence boasting the third best defensive record in the country.

Only Bristol Rovers, from one game fewer, and Rochdale are more miserly, having 'leaked' 11 goals to Burnley's 12.

Apologies if the statistics are becoming a bit monotonous, but they are worth repeating. Burnley have now kept 13 clean sheets this term and haven't conceded a goal at Turf Moor in five matches.

But that doesn't mean they're boring. Saturday's was far from their best performance of the season as they lost their way intermittently.

But in patches, the football was inventive and attractive, lacking only the killer instinct in front of goal.

Glen Little is in good touch, which always gives Burnley a chance, and Paul Cook's invention surfaced often enough to give the Clarets the upper hand.

Wycombe under Lawrie Sanchez are no mugs, however, and Jermaine McSporran could have fired them ahead after just five minutes with a little more composure. Burnley weaved some intricate patterns at the other end of the field but it took Steve Davis to grab hold of the contest after 20 minutes when he powered forward and let fly with a 25-yarder that skidded just wide.

That raised the temperature of a freezing afternoon and Andy Cooke and Payton then combined for the latter to curl one across the face of goal.

But Cooke and Payton were both guilty of wasting chances as Little's teasing delivery gave them each a sight of the target before Wycombe flashed another warning sign.

Caught short at the back, the Clarets were opened up down their left only for Devine to chip over the top.

Burnley continued to probe after the break and some wonderful play by Little engineered another opening for Cooke which he couldn't take.

The feeling it might not be their day then heightened considerably when Baird was sent tumbling by Crichton.

However, Devine's miss swiftly changed that view and with Ronnie Jepson on as a third striker, Burnley gambled everything on the win.

As usual Jepson added an extra dimension and he brought a save out of Martin Taylor when he connected with a Micky Mellon free-kick. It looked then as though Alan Lee might also be pitched into the fray to try and force the breakthrough until Payton forced a change of plan.

Latching into Graham Branch's knock-down, Payton swivelled to hook the ball under Taylor in predatory fashion and Lenny Johnrose was the beneficiary as he was sent on to help consolidate the 1-0 lead.

Johnrose almost did better than that when bringing a fine save out of Taylor three minutes from the end.

But not for the first time this season, and I wager not for the last either, one goal was enough to keep the Clarets in the thick of a highly competitive promotion scrap.

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