Half a tale STEVE Davis half knew what to expect when arriving at QPR this afternoon to take on towering striker Peter Crouch.

The 19-year-old front man stands at six feet, seven inches tall and is a new face on the Nationwide League scene.

However, Davis knows what to expect having seen Crouch, or some of him, on television.

The Clarets skipper joked: "I've seen the big lad on television, well half of him because he's so big the other half goes off the screen!"

On a more serious note Davis and central defensive sidekick Ian Cox are ready for anything that comes their way at the moment.

And while Burnley might have exceeded expectations in some quarters , Davis was always confident the players would be able to handle life in Division One.

He added: "I don't think that was in any doubt, from my point of view or the majority of the team. Most of us had experienced a little bit of First Division football and everyone is more than capable of playing at this level, as has been proved so far.

"The season is only 12 games long so there's a long way to go. But you can only judge on what's happened so far and it's so far, so good."

On the look-out GERRY Harrison is on the look-out for another new club after being released by Halifax Town.

The former Clarets favourite joined the Third Division strugglers a couple of months ago after failing to land a contract back at Turf Moor.

But new Halifax boss Paul Bracewell has decided not to keep Harrison on and let him go after Town's mid-week defeat to Cheltenham.

Steve Morgan, who was with Burnley a couple of seasons ago, has also been shown the door at the Shay after joining the club recently on a non-contract basis. Bad luck on the hole LUCKLESS Clarets winger Paul Smith must have been cursing his luck after his freak injury this week.

Smith badly gashed a shin when falling down an uncovered manhole in the dark to bring an end to his loan spell at Oldham.

After a catalogue of injuries in recent times it was the last thing he needed.

But despite Smith's misfortune, the accident might not be the most bizarre to have laid low a professional footballer.

Who could ever forget Dave Beasant's enforced absence caused by dropping a bottle of salad cream on his foot.

ANSWER to last week's teaser: Mitchell Thomas was the Clarets birthday boy who reached 36 earlier this month.

Staying on the defensive front, which former Burnley stopper recently joined Blackpool on loan ? Answer next week.