FURIOUS Adrian Heath made a public apology today after the crushing 5-0 debacle at Wycombe Wanderers, writes TONY DEWHURST.

The Clarets crashed to their biggest League defeat in over a year at Adams Park as their Division Two play-off hopes took another giant nosedive.

And the Turf Moor chief said several of his squad are playing for their Turf Moor futures after Burnley's desperate show.

More than 700 fans - many left before half-time in disgust - saw Burnley concede four first half goals in a performance which shocked the manager.

Heath blazed: "Unfortunately this result has probably hurt our fans more than my players which is a very sad fact.

"I felt desperately sorry for our fans down there. They had travelled a long way and deserved an awful lot more than they saw. They were let down very badly.

"I can't think of one positive aspect that came out of the game.

"At best we were poor and at worst we were quite awful.

"Wycombe wanted it more and that was the pure and simple truth."

Heath vowed: "This sort of result affects me in terms of my thinking about what type of players I've got at this club.

"One or two people might not think it but I make decisions over players in games like Wycombe, not when they are winning at Brentford or Walsall.

"I could play in that side when they are doing well. That's not a problem.

"It is when you need players to roll up their sleeves and battle it out at places like Wycombe that the real test arrives.

"I didn't see any commitment, bottle or fight out there and that will influence the decisions I have to make at the end of the season.

"It angers me so much and it is only something that the players can answer on why they approach the game mentally like that. "We couldn't have done any more in terms of preparation and approach.

"They were ready for Stockport County because they thought that they might get turned over.

"But they came to Wycombe thinking they could get a comfortable result. They probably think they are better than they really are.

"I'm sorry but it just doesn't work like that in Division Two. Certainly, we are not a good enough side to play at half cock and get away with it.

"The scoreline wasn't the issue. It was how the players approached their task.

"They were rolled over by inferior players. Why? Because they did not want to roll up their sleeves to battle and compete.

"Physically we did not compete well enough and that's a very poor show.

"I believe we have better players than Wycombe. But if you are not willing to tackle, sweat and fight for the cause then a result like that will happen.

"We were never at the races. Nobody wanted to stand up and be counted.

"To be honest we got off lightly with five. It could have proved a lot worse."

Heath absolved reserve goalkeeper Wayne Russell of any blame for the shocking defeat.

First choice Marlon Beresford was forced to sit out the match with a groin injury.

Heath added: "I felt sorry for Wayne because he did not have one ounce of protection from his defence all night.

"People will see the scoreline and think it was because Marlon was not in goal. But I can't put any of the goals down to Wayne."

The Burnley squad had all leave cancelled today and instead reported for extra training at Gawthorpe this morning.

Heath, though, refused to accept that Burnley's play-off promotion hopes were dead.

The Clarets sunk to ninth place - their lowest League placing since December - after Bristol City's late winner against Wrexham.

Burnley remain three points behind Watford - who are at Turf Moor on the final day of the season - but have played a game more.

"I don't accept that our play-off hopes are dead," Heath added.

"If we can win our final three matches then that might be enough to squeeze us in.

"There is definitely still hope and plenty to play for.

"If we can win our next two matches then it could go down to the wire against Watford on May 3."

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