FURIOUS Burnley boss Stan Ternent was forced to give his side a public dressing down for the sixth time this season after a demoralising display and defeat at Bramall Lane last night.

And he has demanded that they do not plumb the same depths again in the 12 remaining games this season after being cut to shreds by the Blades.

Two goals for Michael Brown before the break and sub Peter Ndlovu after it, were enough to render goals from Gareth Taylor and Robbie Blake meaningless and leave the Clarets 11 points away from the precious place in the top six. The scoreline certainly flattered the Clarets whose play-off dream is in danger of disappearing days after the Cup exit.

"We still have a chance but, realistically, anyone watching a performance like that would think we were a relegation side, never mind top six," he admitted.

"We have 12 games left, more than a quarter of the season, and we will have to win three-quarters of them. We have been playing catch-up all season but the last two performances have not been anywhere near the standard the players have set for themselves.

"But we will start again today and go to Walsall on Saturday for our fifth game away from home in a row. We have got four points from three away from home so if we win that will be seven, which is a good return

"I'm not disappointed because we did not perform," he fumed. "Certainly not in the first half and we were lucky to only go in two down at half time.

"Too many players were right off the pace and the performance was totally unacceptable.

"I don't know whether it was a hangover from the FA Cup or because Sheffield United were miles too good for us but it was not good enough. Sheffield United were better than us by a million miles."

Having somehow conceded just two goals against the rampant home side, Taylor's 13th goal of the season gave Ternent brief hope as he explained: "When we scored there was hope we could go on from there but Coxy made a rick in the corner.

"There were far, far too many players playing nowhere near their capabilities but I can assure you that we will perform a lot better for the rest of the season."

Ternent made changes to both players and formation but he was frank in his assessment as he said: "We went from sixes and sevens to sevens and eights."

There was no hiding his anger and frustration at the display from his team but if there is one crumb of comfort it comes in the reaction of his players to the last dismal league defeat.

He was forced to rant against them after the 5-2 home defeat by Reading and in the next five games they were unbeaten, conceding just two goals in the process.

The Clarets have now shipped 60 goals in the league this season and they simply can't afford any more capitulations if the season is not to fade away over the next few weeks.

Ternent has made it clear he won't accept such displays, his team now has to show they are up for the fight at Walsall on Saturday.