BURNLEY'S last-day bid to save their Second Division status is just as crucial as the match they had to win to stay in the Football League 11 years ago.

That's the verdict of Neil Warnock whose Oldham side removed Burnley's destiny from their own hands with two late goals in Tuesday night's 3-3 Boundary Park thriller.

The Clarets will now only stay up if they beat Warnock's former club Plymouth on Saturday and Brentford don't beat Bristol Rovers.

And the Oldham boss claimed the situation is every bit as serious as in 1987 when Burnley beat Leyton Orient on the last day of the campaign to send Lincoln into non-League football.

Ironically Lincoln were replaced by Vauxhall Conference champions Scarborough, managed then by Warnock.

"It might just be the Second Division but I think it's just as important the game on Saturday as when you are getting kicked out the Football League because you don't want to waste a year in the Third Division," said Warnock.

"That is the pits. I had one year in it with Plymouth and that was enough for me. I never want to go back into that division if I can help it." Burnley risked going into oblivion had they dropped out of the League rather than suffering what those connected with the club must hope will be a brief stay in the basement division if results go against them on Saturday.

But the game will doubtless conjur up memories of the Orient fixture and another massive Turf Moor crowd is guaranteed.

And Warnock added: "When you look at those fans it's a travesty if they are in that division."

Warnock is close friends with Argyle manager Mick Jones who was previously his number two at Plymouth and Notts County and doubtless the Pilgrims will be well briefed.

But the Oldham boss believes the game is one Burnley could win to successfully complete their half of the equation.

"It's a winnable game because Plymouth have a bad away record but they haven't to take Plymouth lightly because some of their lads are my lads and a lot of them will be fighting for their lives," said Warnock who led Plymouth out of the Third Division via the play-offs two seasons ago. "It will be interesting to see their selections and I think it will be the first result I look for on Saturday when we come off."

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