Burnley 2 - Tranmere 1, Pete Oliver reports from Turf Moor.

Moore 22 mins, Mullin 59 - Yates 20

GARETH Taylor was the name on everyone's lips before Burnley's latest do-or-die clash in their epic play-off quest.

Yet by the end of another night of high drama, it was John Mullin who had taken centre stage to remind everyone that the local-lad-made-good is still around.

Taylor's absence from the team-sheet following the 11th-hour collapse of his loan extension from Manchester City sent shock-waves around Turf Moor ahead of a game the Clarets simply had to win.

The big striker had cut an impressive figure during his two months at the club and was fully expected to continue to spearhead Burnley's late charge for the top six.

But after he was summoned back to Maine Road, Mullin stepped forward from the chorus line to steal the spotlight with a potentially priceless second-half winner.

Anything less than three points would have left Burnley needing a miracle to overhaul Birmingham, Preston or West Bromwich Albion in the play-off zone.

And after Ian Moore had earlier cancelled out Steve Yates's opener, Mullin guaranteed the points with a superbly taken 59th-minute strike.

"Gareth's done ever so well and it was quite a hard act to follow. But I was pleased to come in and get the goal," said Mullin, whose only previous goal this season had also earned victory at Loftus Road way back in October.

Like Dean West and Gordon Armstrong, Mullin has had to endure some frustrating spells on the sidelines.

But like the aforementioned duo, he also seized his chance when it unexpectedly came his way.

He added: "I just came in today and found out I was playing up front, so I was delighted to get a chance and I was pleased with how it went.

"To get a win and to score the winning goal was really pleasing for me. It was my first goal at home this year so that was nice to score in front of the fans.

"To score goals is what it's all about. It gets you mentioned and it gives you a good feeling, but the most important thing was the win and that keeps us in the hunt."

Stan Ternent's remarkable side are now within three points of Birmingham and Preston and four behind West Brom.

While all three are still favourites to keep the Clarets at bay, each will have to win a game and Wimbledon all three of their final fixtures to finish above Burnley if the Clarets can squeeze out two more victories.

And you wouldn't bet against them. For the best part of three seasons under Ternent the Clarets have defied the odds in climbing away from the bottom of the second division.

And last night they again showed their bottle in shaking off the Taylor disappointed and coming from behind against a plucky Tranmere side who played, at times, like anything but a side relegated last weekend.

"I don't think anyone can criticise us for not having character in the club. We've done really well this year to get where we have and to go behind and to end up winning the game, I think the lads should get a lot of credit for that," Mullin added.

Rovers started brightly and it was no surprise when they went in front as Yates forced home a loose ball following Jason Koumas's corner.

Crucially though, the lead lasted no more than two minutes as Moore again used his pace to destroy a defence. Latching onto Kevin Ball's flick-on, the former Tranmere striker sprinted clear, rounded keeper Joe Murphy and angled in a goalbound shot.

It was destined for the far corner but instead ended up in the near one thanks to Yates's clumsy clearance but Moore will doubtless be claiming his 15th of the season.

Burnley moved around their rearguard at the break with Paul Cook returning to the left flank and from his free-kick Steve Davis brought a smart save out of substitute Tranmere keeper John Achterberg.

But a minute later Achterberg was picking the ball out of the net as the Clarets found the goal they had to score. More magic from the unstoppable Glen Little once again prised open the Rovers defence and there was Mullin to rifle home a perfectly struck shot from ten yards.

Tranmere were beginning to look a bottom-of-the-table side at that point and Mullin almost scored again following a Little through-ball.

But nerves then began to set in for the home side and Clarets old boy Micky Mellon, given a wonderful reception when he rose from the bench, volleyed just over the top.

However, worse was to come for Burnley and their supporters after substitute Andy Payton had twice gone close to easing the tension by impressively making chances for himself which he put inches wide on each occasion.

The Clarets struggled to clear their lines and even after Tranmere had been reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Koumas for a second bookable offence, they still managed to gather an increasing number of stray passes.

The unflappable Gordon Armstrong once came to Burnley's rescue but it still needed an injury-time save by Nik Michopoulos from Scott Taylor to leave the final chapter of an incredible campaign unwritten.