BURNLEY are facing a battle of the braves to survive in the Second Division after plummeting back into the relegation places last night.
A return of just one point from successive home games means Burnley are now one of four clubs locked together at the foot of the table.
And Wrexham's 2-1 win has left the Clarets facing a major test of character to get their fight back on course, starting with a crunch game at Carlisle on Saturday.
"Looking at the table there are about nine teams involved now and it will probably go down to the bravest and the teams who believe in what they are doing," said player-manager Chris Waddle.
"It was a very, very disappointing performance. We have had our say in the changing room and now we have got to roll our sleeves up because, if they feel sorry for themselves, they will get punished again.
"Carlisle had a good result so it's going to be a hard game up there, but we have beaten them twice already so there's no need for the boys to go up there in fear of them.
"We have probably lost two out of the last 10 and the worst thing now is to let a bad run set in like we had before Christmas.
"The only way to get out of it is by having another good run. They are the players who got us out of it in the first place but they have done, like Luton did, thought they were out of it and then sunk back into it.
"We have got to pick ourselves up and get back on that run because if we don't we will be in trouble."
One of Waddle's biggest jobs will be to instill some confidence back into his side on the evidence of last night's performance. Even a marvellous Andy Cooke equaliser failed to reignite the spark that had carried Burnley to the fringes of the relegation struggle just a week or so ago.
Wrexham were impressive and played exceptionally well to protect stand-in goalkeeper Gareth Owen who took over from the injured Mark Cartwright just before half-time.
It was Owen's replacement as an outfield player who then grabbed the winner in the shape of Mark Wilson - one of four Wrexham players to arrive within 35 minutes of the kick-off because of a road accident.
Waddle believes the success of the Auto Windscreens Shield run may have got to some of his players. And Chris Brass stressed the need to face up to the harsh facts.
"You have got to understand the realistic position we are in is really deeply in it," said Brass. "We have got to show a lot of courage among the lads and all stick together.
"Things have not gone for us over the last two games but I don't think we have played particularly well to be honest. Now, as the manager says, is the time to stand up and be counted."
The Clarets defender admitted that the side looked jittery at times last night but feels that given their recent home run that should not have become a factor. "Really you should not let that affect you. You have got to overcome that and be man enough to get through it and better your performance.
"You should really thrive on it and know you have got to do better than you actually are," he added.
"Carlisle had a good result but we have got to go there expecting to win. It will be a tough game.
"They are down there with us and in order to pull away from teams like Carlisle you have got to beat them."
Luton's top scorer Tony Thorpe is moving to Fulham for £800,000 because of what manager Lennie Lawrence called "sheer economic necessity."
The Clarets Independent Supporters Assocation holds its monthly meeting at the Park View, Burnley tomorrow night, start 7.30pm. New members welcome.
The reserves are at home to Rochdale tonight (kick-off 7.15pm).
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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