Stan's spoilt for choice!

IF Stan Ternent knows his starting line-up for Burnley's curtain-raiser at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday week he's giving few clues away.

For the third game running he gave all his fit senior players, including potential transfer target Martin Smith, a run-out at Spotland last night where a Glen Little goal on the stroke of half-time gave the Clarets victory.

But one thing that is for sure is that the Burnley boss is going to be spoilt for choice, even without the injured triumvirate of Chris Brass, Paul Weller and Peter Swan when the season kicks off.

As Ternent experimented and considered his different options again, the Clarets bench at kick-off was being warmed by trialists Smith and Stephen Grant, last season's skipper Gordon Armstrong, Lenny Johnrose, Andy Cooke, Graham Branch, Paul Smith, Mark Robertson and Ronnie Jepson.

All were introduced as the evening went on and a number are likely to start when it counts for real at Adams Park, underlying the strength in depth at the manager's disposal.

No-one set the world on fire last night, but then who would at this stage of proceedings on a dry and bumpy pitch?

But what was blatantly apparent is that Ternent has realistic options for almost every position in the team.

With Brass injured, it's safe to assume that Steve Davis and Mitchell Thomas, who both played another full 90 minutes, will start in front of Paul Crichton in goal. But will they be in a flat back four, like last night, or with Gordon Armstrong behind them as sweeper? Ternent has tried to work it in pre-season to ensure that he has both systems at his disposal, while also having flexibility in midfield.

Dean West and Tom Cowan are likely to start as the full-backs but both Mark Robertson and a highly-committed Paul Smith proved in the second half that they will provide serious competition.

The midfield conjures up more permutations than you can shake a stick at and the arrival of former Sunderland man Martin Smith provided an intriguing late addition to the recipe.

Andy Payton and Alan Lee started up front against a keen Rochdale side but Ternent has choices there too and Cooke, looking lean and fit, came roaring into the fray for the final half-hour with all the intent of a man not ready to relinquish his place as the line leader.

All-in-all it leaves you eagerly waiting for the real thing rather than the necessary groundwork that must be done in the pre-season programme.

Burnley, whose midfield was subject to a reshuffle after just 23 minutes, took time to settle as Rochdale started the better.

But neither keeper had much to worry about until half-an-hour had gone. Little then curled one wide, the lively Cowan headed over the top and Thomas almost converted Lee's far post cross before the Clarets broke the stalemate. Keith Hill's late tackle on Lee on half-way decked the Burnley striker and sparked off an exchange of words with Jepson but not before Lee had helped the ball on to Little.

The wing man did the rest, cutting inside to whip a left-foot shot past Neil Edwards and into the far corner to settle the contest.

Lee was keen to hand out his own retribution and things briefly boiled over but peace was restored after the break as Martin Smith made his entrance. He wasn't given the opportunity to make a sustained impact but showed a couple of flashes of quality on the left-hand side of midfield, one turn and chip just over the bar staying in the mind.

Smith also worked an opening for a Payton header, while Cooke and Grant unleashed worthwhile efforts. As the chopping and changing went on, Rochdale finished strongly but couldn't produce a telling effort on goal, the impressive Robertson getting in the way of their best effort from Graeme Atkinson.

How they lined up:

ROCHDALE: Edwards, Evans, Stokes, Bayliss, Peake, Hill, Flitcroft (Carden 79), Ford (Jones 46), Atkinson, Holt, Lancashire. Subs: Stoker, Lenagh, Priestley.

BURNLEY: Crichton, West, Cowan, Mellon, Davis, Thomas, Little, P Cook, Lee, Payton, Mullin. Subs all used: Armstrong, Cooke, Johnrose, Jepson, Branch, P Smith, Robertson, Grant, M Smith.

REFEREE: Michael Jones (Chester)

ATTENDANCE: 2,317

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