CHRIS Waddle's bid to bring Andy Payton to Turf Moor was given fresh urgency with the news that goal hero Andy Cooke is set for a two-game ban.

Cooke's first half double strike provided Waddle with some welcome relief in the rousing 2-0 win over top-of-the-table Watford.

But the striker was booked - his fifth yellow card of the season - and will now be out for two games.

Waddle is still hopeful of completing the swap deal involving Clarets striker Paul Barnes and Huddersfield Town's Payton before Burnley's next Second Division game away to Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

But it looks as though it will have to wait until later in the week, as Huddersfield left today for their FA Cup tie at Bournemouth.

Town boss Peter Jackson, as keen as Waddle to clinch the deal, confirmed: "I am very hopeful we will be able to get all the negotiations done, have the medicals and scans for Paul Barnes and get the paperwork completed in time for the weekend.

"There's still a bit of talking to do but I am pretty sure any problems can be ironed out because it is an attractive move for all parties."

The sticking point is a contractual problem for Payton at the Huddersfield end.

He watched their game against Oxford on Saturday.

Waddle was keen to stress that Saturday's storming victory had been long on the cards. He said: "I can't fault the players over the last four or five games, we've been playing well and creating chances but not put them away.

"Let's hope it's a turning point, but were not getting carried away.

"There's not much between the teams at the top and bottom of the league which we proved today.

"Everybody played well and we have got players who can win games."

Burnley were unable to climb off the bottom of the table with Carlisle and Brentford both winning at home.

And a defiant Waddle realised that one win alone would not solve all his problems.

"It's nice to send the crowd home happy and I've always said they've been excellent apart from one game. But if we get beaten in our next home game they'll probably be booing again.

"The job can be frustrating and you learn who your friends are - they don't say it your face, but people have probably written me off. Taking stick hasn't hurt me. It has been a bit over the top but it doesn't bother me. I've had it as a player and I've had it as a manager. But you just get on with life and nobody will deter what I'm trying to do. I'm not surprised by the criticism because I know what the media's like," added Waddle.

Burnley will ring the changes against Notts County at Turf Moor tomorrow night, Several players, including Waddle, have knocks and are unlikely to be risked.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.