Morecambe 1 Burnley 0 - Pete Oliver's match verdict

IN THE unlikely event that Stan Ternent had any doubts about the size of the job he is facing at Turf Moor then last night will have helped further dispel them.

With the exception of Andy Payton, Burnley fielded just about their strongest available squad at Christie Park but ended up being beaten by their Vauxhall Conference hosts with a goal from John Kennedy.

Results of course are of no real consequence in pre-season but the performance again raised serious questions and a major turn-around is required between now and a week on Saturday if the Clarets are to prosper.

It's always dangerous to read too much into any situation at this stage of the campaign and when it really matters the chances are Burnley will be ready. But new blood is needed and soon.

On top of that a healthy dose of conviction and self-belief wouldn't go amiss among some of the current crop of players.

Right now they are struggling to assert themselves and take command against supposedly inferior opposition.

The existing staff certainly can't complain that they haven't been given a chance as Ternent gave all his fit senior players another extensive run-out last night. But as at Halifax on Saturday some didn't do themselves any favours as early form continues to be elusive.

Ternent started this time with three central defenders and two wing-backs in Glen Little and Paul Smith before switching in the second half to 4-4-2 and then to 4-3-3 as new signing Ronnie Jepson came on up front for the last 20 minutes.

And with Chris Brass, Neil Moore and Steve Blatherwick in the middle Burnley looked comfortable if not completely watertight early on as Morecambe's lively front two of Wayne Curtis and John Norman formed a useful partnership.

The combination almost produced an opening goal when Curtis spun away from Blatherwick but he was unable to beat the advancing Tony Parks.

Burnley struggled to create anything clear-cut themselves - one Andy Cooke header apart - before Smith and Little started to make their presence felt going forward.

Little struck a shot against the outside of the post as he cut inside before another jinking run set up Michael Williams whose rising drive was tipped over by Andy Banks. And Smith ended the half by firing just over the top after his run had stretched the home defence.

Cooke's strength up front often looked Burnley's most likely route to goal and Banks saved well with his feet to deny the Clarets' striker shortly after the re-start.

Williams also got into some dangerous forward positions on a good night for him and brought another smart save out of Banks before Morecambe claimed the winner after 51 minutes.

Parks had shown excellent positioning up to then but question marks had to be asked as John Kennedy curled a sweet left foot free-kick over the defensive wall and into the back of the net from a central position 22 yards out.

Burnley had switched to a flat back four by the time some over-zealous refereeing saw Steve Morgan removed from the left-back slot through an enforced substitution.

And the Clarets became increasingly ragged and careless in their passing as any of the earlier composure they showed ebbed away.

Jepson had little chance to get into the game but those around him did get close to an equaliser.

Moore's downward header was well blocked by Banks before Cooke struck one shot just wide and another crashing against the woodwork.

Colin Carr-Lawton also passed up a chance when volleying at the keeper but it's not up front where Burnley's problems lie.

The remedies are needed elsewhere and a tonic at Rochdale on Saturday won't come a moment too soon.

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