No substitute for desire

PHIL Brown will have slept well enough last night after the Bolton assistant boss watched Burnley wrap up their public pre-season work-outs with defeat to Third Division Rochdale.

However, Stan Ternent isn't likely to have lost much kip either as he mulls over his final permutations ahead of next Saturday's League opener at the Reebok Stadium.

The Clarets were far from inspiring and the manager questioned their level of desire, notably in the second half when they conceded the only goal of the game to former Manchester United starlet Simon Davies.

But such is the nature of pre-season that a defeat to a club from the basement division will have about as much bearing on the real thing as Burnley's mid-week win over Manchester City.

"I wouldn't read too much into pre-season matches, although the fans will be disappointed because they want to win every game," said Ternent, who is unlikely to have changed his mind on his starting line-up against Bolton on the evidence of either of the last two results.

Had it gone disastrously wrong at Spotland doubts might have crept in to temper the encouragement generated by the performance against City.

But a lack of polish and possibly motivation in less than glamorous surroundings shouldn't set the alarm bells ringing. And while squad depth will be paramount for Burnley as they look to consolidate in Division One, it's also worth remembering that key men Andy Payton, Glen Little and Mitchell Thomas were missing.

As a result possibly eight or nine of the side that started will face Bolton, while Ternent kept his options open by using 10 outfield substitutes at various stages of the second half to fully utilise his squad and have a further look at Gerry Harrison and Scott Oakes as they fight for a contract.

John Mullin caught the eye in the first half and when Burnley moved the ball around via Kevin Ball and Paul Cook to feed the wings they looked impressive.

Paul Weller also made a couple of incisive runs, although Rochdale also used their right flank well with forty-something MBE Tony Ford proving he can still deliver a mean cross as the Clarets were forced onto the back foot more than they would have liked.

Dale grew in confidence once they survived a ninth-minute scare when Steve Davis's header from a Cook free-kick came back off the bar.

And Burnley created few clear-cut chances after Mullin had gone close 11 minutes later.

An astute through-ball from Ball, which could become a big factor for the Clarets this season, allowed Mullin to waltz around Lee Todd but his carefully placed shot couldn't beat Phil Priestley. After that Rochdale fought their way into the game, although Priestley was troubled once more by a stabbed effort from Lee Briscoe which Dale's young keeper fumbled round the post.

Powerful midfielder David Flitcroft, who had given Phil Gray a heavy whack early on, fired a long-range effort just over the top before Ford floated over another cross for the troublesome Clive Platt to head just wide.

And then nine minutes after the break the home side ended the stalemate.

Platt's header was hacked off the line by Ball but new signing Davies was in the right place to volley home the loose ball.

Ternent replaced his three central defenders in one fell swoop a couple of minutes later to kick-start wholesale changes.

However, no-one seized the initiative, although Burnley should have levelled matters before the end.

Having just wasted one crossing chance when in plenty of space, Paul Smith sent over a teasing delivery six minutes after entering the fray only for Alan Lee to mis-time his jump.

And Lee was guilty of a worse miss in the final minute when he was picked out by Graham Branch.

Despite being given two bites of the cherry he failed to beat Priestley and the game was up.

Rochdale deservedly celebrated a notable scalp. But roll on next week when there's something to really get excited about.