Burnley 1 Wolves 2: Clarets' Defensive Woes Cost Them Dear Yet Again

A Matt Jarvis strike and Clarke Carlisle's own goal gave Wolves a crucial victory as Burnley stretched their miserable run without a victory to 19 Premier League matches.

The Clarets feature the Premier League's worst defence, and, against the division's poorest attack, underlined why, as Tyrone Mears's poor back header allowing Jarvis in to open the scoring.

And a minute into the second period Adlene Guedioura's shot, which was heading about 15 yards wide, flicked off Carlisle's heel and flew in, before Steven Thompson scored a late consolation for Burnley.

REACTION:
Brian Laws was left to lament Burnley's misfortune once again as their miserable run continued.

The Clarets have eight games left to preserve their Premier League status but, with one win in 19, they are facing an uphill struggle after falling three points behind Wolves.

Laws said: "As far as luck's concerned, it deserted us. It's a huge knock that we've got to take and we've got eight games to go, it's not the last game of the season, there are still a lot of games to be played and a lot of points to play for and it's a massive body blow for us but we can't let it affect us or let it destroy our last eight games.

"We've had to put up with a lot of body blows because a lot of the goals that we're conceding seem to be ones that we're undoing ourselves, it's not from great play from the opposition.

"That's what we've got to have, that spirit against adversity. We've got to be positive in our approach and they were hanging on. That just shows you that the commitment's still there, we just need a bit of luck on our side."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy refused to get carried away despite his side pulling away from the bottom three.

He said: "It's concertinaed it up again hasn't it? West Ham were beaten, Wigan were beaten and more importantly Burnley were beaten.

"It just gives us a bit more of a fighting chance and a bit of confidence.

"We're playing well and I've said it will turn. If we keep playing that way our luck will change and we would get a slice of good fortune, Does it help? Good luck is better than bad luck, that's for sure.

"It's three points and I was pleased with the overall performance because I thought we controlled the first half we got the goal and the second one gave us a cushion. They got a goal back and we had to defend stoutly and manfully."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
You could sense from the atmosphere inside Turf Moor before kick off just how important this match was. Burnley's one win in 18 up against Wolves' one victory in 10 and it was the Clarets that started the better.

Chris Eagles and Graham Alexander both forced early saves from Marcus Hahnemann. Dave Jones had a header saved by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen but the hosts were in the ascendency and Danny Fox also had a header saved before the Clarets shot themselves in the foot once again.

Mears had the time and space - he even had the wind behind him - to knock Kevin Doyle's clipped pass back to Jensen. But his header lacked the necessary power and Jarvis raced on to the ball, played it around Jensen and rolled it into an empty net.

In keeping with Burnley's luck just now, Mears's free kick eventually fell to David Nugent in the area but even though the striker did well to get any sort of shot on goal, he saw his effort bounce away off the bar.

A minute after the interval, Guedioura's shot flew in off Carlisle to leave the Clarets with an impossible task. Laws was booed for his decision to bring Eagles off but it was a decision that paid dividends with substitutes Thompson and Robbie Blake both making a difference.

Blake caused plenty of problems down the left for the Clarets and had a cross glance away off the foot of the post. And Thompson touched in from Alexander's bobbling cross to set up a frantic finish. Burnley piled forward but could not find a way through.

WHAT IT MEANS:
Having been level on points beforehand, Wolves move three points clear of the Clarets and McCarthy will be hoping that his team can enjoy similar levels of fortune in the final weeks of the campaign. They were previously hamstrung by their inability to score goals regularly, and had been shut out in seven of their previous 10 matches, but once they were ahead, the way they repelled Burnley and kept their heads bodes well for the rest of the campaign.

It is looking bleak for the Clarets. In the closing stages they gave Wolves plenty to worry about but if they continue to concede an average of two goals a match, they have no chance of staying up. Three of their next four matches are against Wigan, Blackburn and Hull and they still have the opportunity to get out of trouble, but only if they stop underming themselves at every turn as they have been doing.

QUOTABLE:
"Of course I'm pleased with it."
- McCarthy was far from expansive when asked if he was pleased at the start of his press conference but was more enthusiastic the second time around.

BURNLEY 1 (Thompson 73) WOLVES 2 (Jarvis 26, Carlisle o.g. 47)

PLAYER MARKING:
Burnley (4-4-2): Jensen 6; Mears 5, Carlisle 6, Cort 6, Fox 6 (Jordan 38, 7); Elliott 7, Alexander 6, Bikey 5 (Blake 55, 7), Eagles 6 (Thompson 55, 7); Nugent 6, Paterson 7.
Subs (not used): Duff, Weaver, Edgar, Rodriguez.

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Hahnemann 6; Zubar 7, Craddock 7, Berra 7, Ward 8; Henry 8, Guedioura 7 (Mancienne 59, 6); Foley 6, Jones 7 (Keogh 71), Jarvis 7 (Ebanks-Blake 79, 6); Doyle 7.
Subs (not used): Hennessey, Elokobi, Vokes, Milijas.

ATTENDANCE: 21,217

NEXT UP:
- Burnley v Wigan (Away), Premier League, 20/03, 1500 GMT
- Wolves v Aston Villa (Away), Premier League, 20/03, 1245 GMT

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Karl Henry (Wolves): Looking more and more at home in the top flight. Works tirelessly for his team, leading their pressing in midfield, and rarely gives the ball away. A composed figure in a crazy relegation scrap.