A LATE Chris Anderson equaliser preserved a point for 10-man Burnley reserves tonight, after they let a 2-0 lead over Tranmere slip.

Alex MacDonald and Wes Fletcher gave the Clarets a comfortable early advantage, before the home side used their extra man to score three goals in six second half minutes.

Tranmere, who missed a penalty before beginning the comeback from the spot, looked on course for their first totesport.com league win before Anderson levelled.

But this was a game Burnley would surely have won had they kept 11 men on the park.

The Clarets went in front after just two minutes when the ball was only semi-scrambled off the line following a strong run by striker Fletcher, and MacDonald turned the ball in from close range.

Fletcher doubled the lead 10 minutes later when Tranmere failed to clear their lines, and the young Scouser stroked the ball home from just outside the area.

But Burnley suffered a setback in the 20th minute when last man Kevin Long conceded a penalty and was sent off for tangling with Steve Connor in the box.

The striker recovered to take the spot kick, but missed the chance to reduce the deficit when he hit the crossbar.

Burnley defied their one-man disadvantage for the remainder of the half, with MacDonald and Fletcher both close to doubling their lead.

But two goals in as many second half minutes revived Tranmere.

The home side were awarded a second penalty when Chris Lynch clipped Dale Jennings on the edge of the box.

Spot kick duties were handed over to Jennings, and he duly converted.

Tranmere were level a minute later when Jennings crossed from the left and Jack Mackreth beat goalkeeper Ben Woodhead at the far post.

Jennings then scored his second, and Tranmere's third, to complete the comeback just after the hour, slotting home the rebound when Ryan Fraughan's deflected shot bounced off the crossbar.

Fletcher and Michael King, who was switched to left back when Long saw red, came close to equalising before Anderson prodded in a late equaliser after Dominic Knowles' initial shot was blocked.

BURNLEY: Benjamin Woodhead; Richard Eckersley, Chris Lynch, Kevin Long, Brian Easton (Ed Williams 46); Alex MacDonald (Ross Wilson 86), Alex-Ray Harvey, Chris Anderson, Michael King; Dominic Knowles, Wes Fletcher (Joe Jackson 87).

Subs not used: Craig Mawson, Joe McKee, David Lynch, Tommy Taylor.