AFTER securing their place in Division Two against Wrexham, Burnley's players were reduced to the equally significant task of solidifying their futures at Turf Moor.
While the scoreline might suggest that, collectively, they might as well start preparing their CVs, all the other relevant facts point to the makings of a side capable of carrying the burden of Burnley expectations - as well as manager Adrian Heath's dreams.
This was certainly the view expressed by Walsall manager Chris Nicholl who candidly accepted the harshness of the 3-1 scoreline in his team's favour.
"It was completely undeserved," he admitted to Heath when they met in the tunnel while the media were questioning the Burnley boss after the game.
"I was impressed by your team's application.
"You've got things going in the right direction and I'm sure you'll manage to turn the corner."
Heath intends not only to turn the corner but to assemble a machine fit to challenge down the home straight.
For this, he is the first to acknowledge the need for some talented personnel to be injected into key areas.
One of these is central midfield where the absence of a player who can hold up the ball to allow the wing backs to move forward more frequently is a vital missing link.
Steve Thompson can fulfil this role but Warren Joyce does not seem to have the necessary attributes.
Defensively, Burnley have displayed much improvement in recent weeks but are still, as they have been throughout this season, prone to blatant lapses for which, invariably, they are punished.
There have been few more conspicuous than last night's which followed Kurt Nogan's summary execution of a perfect David Eyres cross to grab his 20th league goal of the season and the lead for Burnley in the 52nd minute.
Straight from the resultant kick-off, the ball was delivered on the left to Kyle Lightbourne, who was a persistent thorn in Burnley's flesh.
Two nondescript tackles from Joyce and Gerry Harrison failed to separate Lightbourne and the ball.
And when his rasping 25-yard drive was parried by Marlon Beresford, (who by his own high standards will be annoyed for failing to deal with it more convincingly) Kevin Wilson was more alert than Mark Winstanley to slot home the equaliser.
Walsall mounted siege again towards the end of the game and it was difficult to dispel the notion that Charlie Bishop, whose loan period from Barnsley has expired, was sorely missed.
His stature, calmness and effectiveness under pressure unquestionably make him a suitable recruit and Heath may consequently choose to off-load at least one of his present defenders.
He could also do with bringing on board a more efficient partner for the gifted Kurt Nogan who supplies the majority of Burnley's goalscoring potential.
Industrious Liam Robinson may be, but he simply does not possess the control nor the threat demanded of a prolific front man.
And he does not have the finishing instincts to suggest a capacity for scoring up to 20 goals a season.
Burnley controlled large periods of the opening half, threatened only in the 42nd minute when Adrian Viveash first had a header cleared off the line by Weller and then directed a second header narrowly wide.
Heath maintained that for 70 minutes Burnley played as well as they have since he took over.
But they succumbed to two late goals, the first when Lightbourne evaded Beresford to set up Platt and the second a minute from time when Lightbourne converted a Martin Butler cross at the near post.
Both served as reminders that, though Heath and Burnley are on the right track, there is still much work to do.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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