Burnley 3 Sheffield United 2 - Darren Bentley reports

STAN Ternent's doctor may expect the call any day.

In an week when Alex Ferguson suffered a heart scare, the Clarets boss might want to take the lead of his old mate and demand a routine check-up.

Having a wafer-thin squad at Ternent's disposal must be trying enough, but after another nail-biting 90 minutes I've come to the conclusion this Burnley side should carry a Government health warning!

A horribly lop-sided game of two halves did absolutely nothing for the nerves as the Clarets scaled dizzy heights, dragged themselves back from the cliff face to lead at the interval, then threaten to throw themselves off the edge in the face of a late Blades barrage.

Thankfully, the nerves of the players are seemingly made of steel and they passed their own examination with flying colours.

Me? I've never twitched in my seat as much since being forced to sit through an entire episode of Pop Idol.

At one stage, we could have been looking at one of those cricket scores that peppered last season's campaign, such was the quality of attacking play on offer in the opening 45 minutes.

Thankfully, the expected avalanche of goals failed to materialise after the break, leaving Ternent a happy, if relieved man.

Opposite number Neil Warnock was left to bemoan his decision to hand untried keeper Lee Baxter a disastrous debut in English football.

He also claimed his side deserved to win, which tells you everything you need to know about how scoring points is sometimes deemed more important than earning them.

United possibly warranted a share of the spoils through a second half display that oozed character following the 57th minute sending off of midfield marvel Michael Brown for an over-the-top challenge on Robbie Blake.

But Burnley could equally state their case for victory following a sizzling display of attacking intent in the opening half, orchestrated by Blake at his brilliant best.

For 45 fly-by minutes, the Blades could get nowhere near him as he made defenders look like dummies and added two more goals to take him into double figures for the season.

But there was much, much more than Blake's silky skills to admire. Goalscorer Ian Moore - made skipper for the day in the absence of David May and Graham Branch - did the armband proud with a lung-busting performance, while Glen Little and Luke Chadwick linked things up effortlessly.

Tony Grant, meanwhile, was again a revelation alongside Richard Chaplow, who was the width of a crossbar from giving the Clarets the perfect start.

That came just four minutes in, as Little deceived everyone with a reverse ball that sent the shaven-headed youngster clear in the box. His rising drive looked goalbound all the way, but somehow struck wood and bounced down to safety.

But there was no reprieve for United and Blake kick-started proceedings in the 17th minute - thanks to a large helping hand from Baxter.

Chaplow fed the Clarets top -scorer 25 yards out and his fiercely hit shot went straight through the hapless keeper's hands to bobble into the net.

Free agent Baxter had only been signed on Friday, along with Hull stopper Alan Fettis, and Warnock later admitted his inclusion was worked out on the toss of a coin.

Yet if Burnley had a head start following that gaffe, they were soon chasing their own tails as United scored twice either side of the half hour mark.

Little had fired straight at Baxter and Chaplow spooned over from 12 yards as the Blades weathered that early storm. And suddenly, in the 24th minute, it was 1-1.

Wayne Allison and Peter Ndlovu combined to tee-up Nick Montgomery on the right side of the box and his low drive had unerring accuracy to nestle just inside Brian Jensen's left hand post.

Seven minutes later it was 1-2 as Mike Whitlow stooped to head Michael Tonge's right wing cross into the same corner.

But in a breathless spell, Burnley levelled almost instantly. Ian Moore was fouled by Whitlow, but sprung up to glance Blake's resulting free kick in at the far post via another bungling error by Baxter.

Tonge - who was sensational - soon headed Moore's hanging header from under his own crossbar as the pace continued unabated.

But on the stroke of half time, Burnley gained revenge in the form of a controversial penalty. Mark McGregor was the meat in Chris Morgan and Allison's sandwich and, while Premiership referee Neale Barry waved play on, his linesman flagged for the foul.

United went apoplectic and Warnock lost the plot, but Blake was coolness personified and, after missing his last three spot-kicks, he made no mistake by sending Baxter the wrong way in the keeper's final contribution before suffering the further ignominy of being replaced by Fettis for the second 45 minutes.

That provided an entirely different scenario - one of grim determination to hang onto the lead while the Blades bared their teeth.

And as the battle raged either side of Brown's dismissal, two figures stood head and shoulders above the rest. Keeper Brian Jensen made two magnificent saves, first turning Tonge's goalbound daisy-cutter for a corner, then with an even better stop to turn Montgomery's rising volley over the angle.

McGregor, meanwhile, deserves special mention. Making only his second start he was faultless from first to last, constantly winning headers and breaking up United attacks with perfectly-timed tackles as the Clarets defended deeper and deeper.

His towering display gives Ternent a defensive headache when May is available again next week.

However, given the nature of Burnley's latest roller-coaster ride, I fear it's the heart and not the head he needs to worry about!