FORGET the A-Team, the Clarets reserves turned to P-force yesterday afternoon as they got back to winning ways against Sheffield United.

Strikers Andy Payton and Dimitri Papadopoulos got the goals that ensured victory at Chesterfield's Saltergate ground and helped to move Ronnie Jepson's side away from the foot of the table.

It was a particularly satisfying match for "Padiham Predator" Payton who is battling back to full fitness after his hernia operation just over two months ago.

He tasted first team action for the first time this season when he was a late sub against Grimsby Town in the FA Cup replay and he will be hoping that his brace against the Blades is a reminder to Stan Ternent that he is still around.

But for both goals he was grateful to the contribution of his Greek strike partner Papadopoulos who has been ahead of him in the push for the first team all season.

The opening goal came in the sixth minute when Ian Cox, another man desperate to get back in the senior side, found Papadopoulos and he opted to cut the ball back to Payton rather than go for goal himself. The finish from close range was typical Payton.

Nine minutes later it was Papadopoulos who struck, latching on to Andrew Waine's threaded through ball and calmly beating Wilko de Vogt in the United goal.

Almost immediately the home side hit back, Marcel Cas scoring past Nik Michopoulos but before the break the two goal lead was restored.

Excellent work by Papadopoulos saw him hook a ball on to Payton who was clear on goal and once again made no mistake.

Perhaps with one eye on the weekend's clash with Reading at Turf Moor, the interval saw the twin strikers replaced by youngsters Anthony Shandran and Damien Hindle, the former coming closest to increasing the lead.

A third sub, Richard Chaplow, joined the fray in the 64th minute in place of Alan Moore who will also be hoping to figure in Ternent's plans for the weekend.

Chaplow was back in action fewer than 48 hours after his heroics for the youth team against Tranmere.

With Cox and youngster Earl Davis in commanding form there was to be no late recovery and a first win in over three months was secured.

Sheffield United: de Vogt, Edghill, Jeannin, Yates (Baum 77), Murphy (Nugent 64), Thompson, Cas (Tansley 64), Wood, Ten Heuvel, Mallon, Smith.

Burnley: Michopoulos, Leeson, Cox, E Davis, Armstrong, Rasmussen, Pilkington, Waine, A Moore (Chaplow 64), Payton (Shandran h-t), Papadopoulos (h-t).

SHEFFIELD UNITED RES 1 BURNLEY RES 3