BURNLEY gained a damage limitation reprieve on Saturday after their disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea City, as all three other relegation threatened participants not only lost, but like the Clarets, failed to score.

Of course it’s not regularly going to be like that and there’s going to be weeks when maybe all the lower placed teams will win.

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I’d pencilled in the Swansea fixture for a possible three points, but in a match of few chances a below-par performance was punished by a ‘raggy’ goal.

Our set piece jitters continue with the winner coming from a Jonjo Shelvey corner that was headed on by the comically named Bafetimbi Gomis, for former Claret Jack Cork, who saw his first-time effort superbly tuned onto the bar by goalkeeper Tom Heaton, only for the luckless Kieran Trippier to knock it into his own goal.

Until we make that first ball our own it does look like we will continue to concede, such is our ponderous defending at times.

On Match of the Day both pundits suggested that Sam Vokes should have taken a dive to secure a penalty late on. What a shameful notion from two who should know better.

We’ve got a big game at in-form Liverpool tomorrow. It’s no secret that the Reds have been ‘sniffing’ around Danny Ings to add him to their already quite formidable attacking options.

Whether he does decide to go there or not, he will find that Anfield like Old Trafford three weeks previous is the ideal stage to show his admirers exactly what he is capable of.

Forty years ago today the Clarets found themselves in the lofty heights of second in the old Division One table.

They were just one point behind Everton at the time, although a late season slump saw them finish 10th. Along the way, Burnley took some formidable scalps, none bigger than the 1-0 win at Liverpool in September 1974.

On a mild Tuesday night I was stood dead in line with full-back Ian Brennan when he unleashed an exocet missile of a shot from a good 35 yards that flew in off the post to record a famous victory.

It was celebrated back in Burnley with a series of all-night parties, according to the Lancashire Telegraph. And why not? Ian’s first league goal as a professional would be only one of 10 league defeats Liverpool suffered at Anfield in a whole decade!

If it is the same scoreline tomorrow night you’ll find me in the off licence nearest the ground, ready to start the party!