Goals dry up as Luton take all three points

IN MONSOON conditions that at times threatened an abandonment, a drought is the last thing you would have associated with Turf Moor last night.

But, in front of goal, the Clarets have dried up dramatically, failing to score for the third home game running to slip to a defeat that keeps a play-off challenge rather than automatic promotion in focus.

It's the ultimate irony that Burnley's barren spell has followed the arrival of one of the most prolific strikers in English football.

But perhaps it's no coincidence that the goals have slowed to a trickle in the absence of Andy Payton.

The leading scorer has been remarkably consistent in his Burnley career, with a strike rate still just slightly better than a goal every other game.

Last night he was left to delay his comeback from a costly three-match ban on the bench.

Payton admitted afterwards that three weeks without a game had left him short of match sharpness and Burnley did well enough in his absence before the break.

But, once they had fallen 2-0 behind to a sloppily conceded goal 10 minutes after half-time, boss Stan Ternent decided that Payton's time had come.

There was to be no storybook return from the fans' favourite, who was given a hero's welcome.

But, having got over half-an-hour's legwork in the tank, Payton's goal touch will now be required to help the Clarets relocate the net and keep at least their play-off aspirations intact.

Wright is busting a gut to score his first Burnley goal and there can be no questioning his commitment or the quality of his touch on the ball. But, so far, it's not happening for him where it counts and he may also be helped if the spotlight isn't shining so brightly solely on him.

Last night Wright had half-a-dozen efforts as Burnley's obvious directive of getting the ball into the box at every opportunity looked like paying dividends.

But some whole-hearted defending denied the former England man as a couple of goalbound shots were charged down and as the game slipped from their grasp, the Clarets' delivery waned in accuracy.

"It was one of those nights when it wasn't going to go for us," admitted Ternent.

"We had numerous chances but we couldn't put the ball in the net.

"We got a lot of balls into the box but didn't play with the normal cohesion we would do at home and I felt we were a little anxious."

He added: "I thought the crowd were extremely good because they would be as frustrated as we were.

"I'm disappointed, I'm sure the fans are and the lads are frustrated."

Burnley didn't play badly but were also let down by some lax defending which allowed a plucky Luton side to get a foothold in the game and then to push it beyond the home side's reach when Phil Gray added to Alan White's 26th-minute strike. "We gave away two poor goals, I felt, and we were always chasing the game," Ternent confessed.

Luton boss Lennie Lawrence confirmed that scoring the first goal had been crucial to his side, whose confidence must have been fragile after losing their previous four games.

That wasn't reflected in their opening, however, as they found the space to threaten Paul Crichton's goal through Gray and the lively Stuart Douglas. But Burnley were also on a recovery mission after Saturday's derby defeat and they started as though they meant business, defying a waterlogged surface to pour forward.

Wright's first chance followed a weak Gary Doherty back-pass and he should have done better than a weak first-time effort at Ben Roberts.

He couldn't be blamed for the next opening that came to nought as his shot from a Glen Little cross would have beaten Roberts, but for a brave block by Julian Watts.

But it was Luton who snatched the lead, not entirely against the run of play, when White drilled home his first goal of the season in impressive style.

Burnley were suitably stung, only for Wright to be out of luck again when Marvin Johnson twice got his body in the way of likely goals. And Luton's endeavour was rewarded when they were gifted a second goal shortly after half-time. The Clarets made a hash of dealing with a corner and after Ian Cox had got the ball stuck under his feet, Gray accepted the opportunity to blast home from close range.

Payton duly made his entry as the third substitute used as Ternent looked to invigorate his midfield and find a goal.

Little should have provided the latter but didn't do justice to a superb run with a poor finish and confirmation that it wouldn't be Burnley's night came when Steve Davis's stunning 35-yarder bounced down from the bar and away from the goal.

Wright then spurned the best chance yet to throw the Clarets a lifeline and after Crichton had denied Matthew Spring a third for Luton, a goalline clearance from Cooke in the final minute summed up Burnley's evening.

PICTURE: Defender Steve Davis heads agonisingly wide from a corner.

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