The tragedy of Saturday's match at Turf Moor was the comparison between the attendance and Burnley's performance. For on the day they attracted their largest league gate of the season the Clarets simply did not play. Or, to put it another way, not enough of them played. Any team with serious ambitions of promotion cannot afford to have key players contributing so little as Burnley did in this match. The outcome was an unconvincing, stuttering display from which Brian Miller's team were somewhat fortunate to escape with a 0-0 draw.

Faced with a big, muscular Brentford side that tackled like tigers Burnley were too easily hustled out of their stride. After a hard, bruising match at Chester in midweek they were so jaded that it took them 70 minutes to produce a worthwhile on-target goal attempt. And Billy Hamilton's left foot shot forced goalkeeper McKellar to make his only noteworthy save of the match. For a promotion-seeking team playing at home that is a woeful statistic. With Alan Stevenson the busier keeper and Chris Kamara shuddering a goalpost with a 71st minute drive few could argue that the visitors would have been the more deserving winners.

The match served as a reminder that with so many tough sides around promotion from Division Three won't be easy. And if the Clarets are to make it back to Division Two they won't need reminding that they cannot afford many more performances like the one they produced against Brentford. (Part of a match report by Peter Higgs)

Burnley (5-3-2): Stevenson; Laws, Overson, Phelan, Dobson, Holt; Scott, Steven, Young; Hamilton, McGee. Sub: Potts (not used)
Brentford (4-4-2): McKellar; Howe, Whitehead, Salman, Hill; Booker, Hurlock, Kamara, Roberts; Johnson, Bowen. Sub: Sweetzer (not used).
Referee: Mr R. Bridges of Deeside. Attendance: 7,817.