PETERBOROUGH'S visit to Turf Moor on Saturday is as big a game as Burnley's Wembley play-off clash, reckons manager Adrian Heath.

"There is no doubt about it," said a defiant Heath.

"The Peterborough game is one of the most important matches that this club have had for a few years.

"Certainly it is on a par with Wembley when we had to win to go up because as the club stands right now we simply can't afford to be relegated.

"I know it and the players know it.

"With the new stand opening soon and the other on its way, it is a very important time for the club."

Heath has enjoyed the sweet taste of victory just once since taking over the Turf Moor hot-seat in March.

But despite that solitary success in his brief nine-game reign he has remained impressively positive.

That was an attitude he saw in his players in the latest set-back at Brighton and one he wants to see again. "It's the oldest cliche in football but what we need now is a slice of luck," said Heath.

"There was nothing wrong with the way the lads went about their work at Brighton, particularly in the second half.

"I certainly couldn't question their commitment.

"And we will need to show that sort of commitment and spirit against Peterborough on Saturday."

The Clarets are just one place and one point above the Division Two drop zone and Heath feels that his side need at least two wins to be safe-but games are beginning to run out.

And if Burnley were to slip into the bottom four it could be a big psychological blow for the side.

"At the moment we are so near and yet so far and it is very frustrating.

"I know that we aren't far away.

"And I want to start planning but we need to get to safety first.

"That is why Saturday's game is so important." David Eyres, who missed the game at Brighton after going down with a virus, is expected to be fit again for Saturday.

There were no other injury worries for Heath from Brighton.

"Unless there have been any reactions from the game we should have a clean bill of health.

"At the moment, with our injury problems, we simply can't afford any more knocks."

SHAREHOLDER John Gilbraith has rejected claims that he is "pulling the strings" at Turf Moor.

"There have been suggestions that I am controlling what Frank Teasdale does at Burnley," he said. "That is absolute nonsense.

"I want to set the record straight.

"We have no contact socially and have not had for several years.

"I am a normal shareholder at Burnley and that is that."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.