EWOOD Park striking legend Simon Garner was the man Burnley fans loved to hate but he admits: "Turf Moor is my lucky ground."

The ex-Blackburn Rovers goal machine returns to Lancashire tomorrow where he hopes to lead the Wycombe Wanderers strikeforce to goal glory against Burnley.

A decade ago Garner was public ememy number one at Turf Moor. Best remembered by Clarets fans for his 1980s scoring exploits - against Burnley.

"There is no doubt Burnley is my lucky ground - and I always seemed to manage a goal there for Rovers," admits Simon.

"I just love the place. When I played for Blackburn the Burnley fans always used to have a real go at me. I used to wind them up too - usually by scoring.

"They used to give me a lot of stick but I genuinely liked playing there.

"The stadium was superb, the pitch was always top quality, the atmosphere was excellent and I usually managed to score!

"I've not played in the first team for a couple of weeks at Wycombe because I'v e had a bit of flu. "But I am desperate to play tomorrow. I've had some good battles there and it would be great to play at Burnley again.

"I can even remember going back there with West Brom a couple of years ago and scoring a goal at Turf Moor."

Garner, now a veteran 35-year-old, made a regular habit of making Burnley fans suffer with his scoring exploits.

He blasted 168 goals for Rovers in 484 appearances - but regularly saved his shooting boots for the Rovers versus Burnley derby.

Garner netted a painful double in the season Burnley were relegated from the old Division Two in the 1982-83 season.

He smashed the winner in a 1-0 Boxing Day win before breaking the hearts of the Clarets faithful with two penalties in the infamous Easter Monday 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park the following April.

He followed that up with Manx Cup goals against the Clarets in 1983 and 1985. Is it any wonder then he is desperate to play at Turf Moor tomorrow? "I've not played in the Wycombe first team for a couple of weeks but I'm so keen to play at Burnley," said Simon.

"I suspect tomorrow could be a really interesting game because we are unbeaten in eight and Burnley have not lost at home in the league."

He added: "Burnley have got a problem this season because everybody who comes to Turf Moor will want to prove a big point against the promotion favourites.

"It is a great place to play football. I just hope my name is on the team sheet."

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