TURF MOOR must brace itself for a relegation shoot-out with Plymouth next Saturday after a controversial 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth guaranteed a final day decider for the Clarets.

A win at Oldham tomorrow night could leave Burnley still needing three points in their home finale to edge out Brentford for the last position of Second Division safety.

And even if they lose at Boundary Park Burnley will probably escape the drop on goals scored if they beat Plymouth and Brentford don't win a tough looking game at play-off chasing Bristol Rovers.

"A win or a point would have made it a bit easier but whatever happens now you are guaranteed probably the biggest gate at Turf Moor for a long, long time," said Burnley player-manager Chris Waddle after his side had lost out by a single goal for the 12th time on their travels this season.

"We can fight another day. We go to Oldham and we could have Andy Payton and Gerry Harrison so I would like to think we will be stronger.

"It's a local derby type of game and there will be a blinding atmosphere there. We will have a lot up there and it's a big game but I have said to the players they can't give anymore.

"You saw the reaction of the fans at Bournemouth and nobody got any stick which is great credit to them.

"We had a great following on Saturday and it would have been nice to have sent them home with a result.

"It makes it interesting but it's been interesting all season. It builds it up nicely for Saturday and if we can get a result tomorrow it will build it up even better." Burnley may well have gone into their game in hand tomorrow in a more healthy position if they had been awarded the penalty they should have been with Saturday's game poised at 0-0.

Cooke was clearly brought down by Cherries keeper Jimmy Glass who then made a couple of exceptional saves to deny the Clarets again late on as they fought back from 2-0 down.

"If Andy Cooke was supposedly diving why wasn't he yellow carded?" asked a disappointed Waddle.

"Unfortunately the referee would rather show us his fillings than make a decision and it's annoying when we are fighting for people's futures.

"No doubt we will get him again so I have to watch what I say but I think if it had happened at Turf Moor I think the whistle would have hit his lips."

Cooke himself was adamant that he had been fouled and even Glass admitted afterwards that he was a lucky man to escape censure.

Cooke said: "Obviously we were going to be under pressure coming down here but we worked hard for the break and when we got the break like that he doesn't give us anything.

"I have lost my temper and had a frustrating season but with refereeing like that it's a disgrace really.

"We are not looking at excuses. We have been beaten and that's it and we have got to get on with it but it's so frustrating when you get people like that giving silly decisions all the way through the game. "It's a hot day, we need the points and it's very upsetting for the lads to come down here and get that."

Despite the disappointment of leaving the South Coast empty-handed, Burnley defender Chris Brass admitted that Plymouth's last-gasp defeat and Brentford's draw with Luton had given the players a lift.

"If the other results had gone against us it would have been very hard to go to Oldham and think we need two wins," said Brass.

Harrison will return to the Clarets' starting line-up tomorrow night, although not necessarily at the expense of Brass. Payton's involvement following a groin injury will depend on a late check.

It's all pay at the gate for Burnley supporters going to Oldham, prices £12 and £5 concessions with fans advised to arrive early.

Burnley A beat Marine 2-1 on Saturday with a Terry Murphy strike and an own-goal, while the B team were beaten 2-0 by Wrexham.

Tonight's reserve game against York City at Turf Moor was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

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