PLAYED 46, won 12, drawn 14, lost 20, goals for 52, goals against 72, points 50. Should the remainder of Burnley's season correspond to the form they have shown since August, this is the set of statistics which the Clarets will end up with come the end of the campaign.

And if you are of the claret and blue persuasion and those same figures don't send your blood pressure through the roof, then I can only assume you are under extremely heavy sedation.

Flippancy aside, these are disturbing stats if only for the worrying and wearying sense of deja-vu they engender.

Ternent has spoken on numerous occasions of his desire to reach the 50-point mark. And if the above projection proves correct, then the Clarets are on target - just.

The concern, of course, centres around whether or not 50 points will be sufficient. What if the manager's Holy Grail turns out to be a mirage?

The answer to that question is as unpalatable as it is obvious.

The problem is that relegation scraps are notoiously hard to call, often going to the last day of the season. Just in case you're wondering, Burnley's final game of the campaign takes them to Northampton, who, on current form, will also be down among the dead men in the closing stages.

Can you imagine if we need a point from that game?

To avoid a repeat of last seasons nerve-shredding climax, Burnley need to improve and fast.

One way in which they might do this is by keeping a full complement of players on the field.

Eight Clarets have seen red this season, which means that on average, Burnley play part of every fourth game with 10 men.

True, referees are inconsistent, sometimes downright poor, but diving in two-footed or clumsily tackling from behind when on a yellow card smacks of stupidity on the player's part.

Salvation must also come from two other sources. Firstly, a swift return to full form and fitness of the increasingly indispensible Glen Little. It is no fluke that Burnley's best runs of form have concided with the skilful winger's inclusion. He is the key to the opposition's defences and possibly safety.

The second hope is a run of good home form. Four victories from our last 14 games might see us safe: five possibly will.

The majority of these must come from Turf Moor, hopefully starting with a win against Gillingham on Saturday.

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