Brian Laws felt Lady Luck smiled on Wolves as the Clarets suffered a setback in their survival bid.

A Tyrone Mears mistake that led to a Matt Jarvis opener and an unavoidable Clarke Carlisle own goal opened up a two goal gap for Wanderers before sub Steven Thompson made it a grand finale with his first Premier League goal 17 minutes from time.

Alas, it was not to be and the Clarets saw Mick McCarthy's side open up a gap at the bottom of the table as the season enters the home straight.

Laws said: "It's a hard one to stomach and a big blow, there's no doubt about it.

"We were encouraged from Wednesday and leading in to this game. Wolves didn't really trouble us, but unfortunately when players make mistakes you can get punished and it gave them the easiest of goals.

"The important thing is how you respond and the players have had a right go. But the second goal is another huge slice of luck and if there was any going today, Wolves certainly had it.

"We hit the crossbar and possible might have had a penalty (hand ball), and it wasn't to be.

Nugent hits the bar in first half stoppage time

"We have had to put up with a lot of body blows and the goals we are conceding seem to be of our own doing.

"But nobody makes deliberate mistakes and unfortunately some judgement calls result in goals.

"I can't criticise the players for effort because they game everything in the second half and they were throwing bodies in everywhere.

"We need that spirit in adversity and we just need that little bit of luck on our side."

Sections of the home support reacted angrily to a second half double substitution by laws, who withdrew Chris Eagles and Andre Bikey - the latter a replacement for the 11^th hour withdrawal of Kevin McDonald with a bad back - and threw on Thompson and Robbie Blake.

And after the attack-minded duo almost roused the Clarets to earn a priceless point, Laws defended his decision.

He said: "I was a little disappointed with the reaction of the supporters because we don't make substitutions to be negative.

"We were decimated before kick off when Kevin had to pull out with a bad back and Fletcher was hopefully going to be on the bench and didn't make it.

"We tried to put some fresh legs in the middle and that's why I put Wade in there.

"I understand that Chris (Eagles) is a favourite with the fans and managers don't make decision to be negative.

"We do it for a purpose, not to cheese off anyone and the substitutions were the right thing to do.

"What I needed was crosses coming into the box and Robbie did that, I felt.

"We had more crosses in our box in the last 30 minutes and more attempts at goal than the previous hour after Wade went into centre midfield and we brought on fresh legs."

The gaffer added: "We are all in this together and we want the fans with us, not against us.

"I can understand that they want positive players on the park when you are two goals down.

"But I couldn't ask for a more positive reaction from those who came on.

"Steven got his first Premier League goal too, so I couldn't ask any more than the players and in the end I am really disappointed we didn't get anything out of the game because we had the chances."

The defeat leaves the Clarets three points from safety with eight games remaining

And Laws admitted: "Each game that goes by and we don't win makes the scale of the task greater.

"But there is 24 points to play for and while it is mathematically possible we have to keep fighting.

"I won't allow anyone to give in. The fans won't, so why should we?

"It was never going to be the end of the season today and we can't allow ourselves to think like that.

"It only takes one win and we are back in it, so we will keep fighting away.

"If we can get that away win at Wigan, all of a sudden the disappointment of a home defeat melts away.

"The players are disappointed, there's no doubt. Our job is to pick them up for next week after a tough week when they haven't got what they deserved."