MARLON Beresford is out Burnley's crucial Division Two clash at Wycombe Wanderers tonight, writes TONY DEWHURST.

The Clarets goalkeeper saw a specialist last night and manager Adrian Heath revealed Beresford would have to sit out tonight's game which is vital to Burnley's play-off ambitions.

Beresford missed the 1-0 defeat at Stockport County with a troublesome groin injury - and Heath is desperate to get his number one goalkeeper back into the thick of the action as soon as possible.

But he said: "He saw the specialist yesterday and we came to the conclusion that we can't risk Marlon at the moment.

"Hopefully the rest will do him good and he will be available again for the remaining games."

The Clarets have lost vital ground on the play-off pack after losing three out of their last four fixtures.

Though Stockport did Burnley a favour last night beating Watford 1-0.

And Heath knows that Burnley cannot afford another setback at Wycombe tonight.

Heath observed: "We know how important tonight's game is for us.

"Stockport helped us last night and looking at the other fixtures we have a chance to go back into the top six again." The FA were today waiting for the arrival of the referee's report on Saturday's game before acting on complaints from Burnley fans about the actions of Stockport striker Andy Mutch.

Reserve goalkeeper Wayne Russell will continue in goal and Heath said Andy Cooke was likely to return to the side following the formation change at Stockport.

Burnley face a Wycombe side unbeaten in the League at Adams Park since Boxing Day and completely revitalised under John Gregory, who replaced Alan Smith, sacked last October.

Indeed, Saturday's 2-1 triumph at Notts County saw Wycombe lift themselves out of the bottom four for the first time in six months and sentence County to basement football next season.

Wanderers are in impressive form too, having conceded just one goal at Adams Park in 1997 and have several notable scorelines under their belt, including 0-0 draws at Brentford and Luton Town.

Heath added: "I've seen as much of Wycombe this year than I have of any club and I said they would avoid relegation. "They are battling like mad and everybody is pulling in the same direction. Nobody is throwing the towel in at Wycombe and I think tonight will be as hard as any game that we've played all this season.

"They will be dangerous opponents and we know what sort of task we face down there. They've beaten Blackpool, Crewe and drawn with Luton in the last couple of months".

Gregory underlined the importance of the game and said: "A win against Burnley tonight and the same against Bournemouth would probably see us safe. That is how crucial tonight's game is to Wycombe.

"We will have to play flat out to beat Burnley because they are one of the strongest teams in Division Two. But we've showed this year that we can stop the top teams playing."

Burnley choose from: Russell, Beresford, Parkinson, Vinnicombe, Brass, Hoyland, Winstanley, Harrison, Weller, Eyres, Barnes, Thompson, Smith, Guinan, Huxford, Cooke.

Wycombe's squad is: Parkin, Kavanagh, Bell, McCarthy, Forsyth, Carroll, Scott, Stallard, Read, McGavin, Cornforth, Simpson, Brown.

There are several crucial Division Two fixtures tonight. Leaders Bury take on Crewe Alexandra at Gigg Lane while Brentford face FA Cup semi-final heroes Chesterfield at Griffin Park.

John Ward's Bristol City lock horns with Wrexham at Ashton Gate while Luton Town are at Blackpool.

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