THERE were pretty bubbles in the air. A pretty awful refereeing decision has all but burst Burnley’s.

Jon Moss, who has been awarded the FA Cup final, awarded a 23rd minute penalty.

There were no arguments at that point, apart from Michael Duff protesting his innocence after tripping Cheikhou Kouyate in the box.

But the delayed, game-changing red card which the match official brandished at the defender and left the Clarets facing a lengthy spell with 10 men for the second time in three games was questioned by everyone, considering there were three outfield players covering.

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce, penalty taker - and scorer - Mark Noble, Stewart Downing, who felt he should have been awarded a second half spot kick - everyone in the home camp felt their opponents had been hard done by.

Burnley must decide whether to appeal. Sean Dyche was reluctant in the immediate aftermath of defeat, but the manager would have the backing of the board if he changed his mind.

But while Moss made a huge mistake, he is not responsible for the position in which Burnley find themselves in - eight points adrift with nine to play for; one goal in nine, none in six; the smallest number in the goals for column in the division, and for the second time in seven months setting an unwanted record of minutes without a goal.

Much like the previous weekend’s penalty miss and Leicester City’s subsequent winner at Turf Moor, the Clarets’ fate will not boil down to those moments.

Paucity on the pitch is as much owed to impotency in the transfer market.

Burnley outlined key targets post-promotion, but for one reason or another, struggled to get them.

Troy Deeney’s decision to stay with Watford has now been justified, after they were promoted as runners up to Bournemouth. Midfielder Craig Bryson and defender Richard Keogh opted also to stay at their clubs, expecting that just 12 months later they would be promoted with Derby County. That might be a regret now after the Rams’ finished eighth.

There is no guarantee that the arrival of any of them would have prevented the Clarets from making what now looks an unstoppable return to the second tier so soon after that glorious promotion-winning campaign. But they would certainly have added strength to a squad which, instead of having big money spent on it, is counting the cost of small numbers, not least since losing midfielder Dean Marney for the season in February.

George Boyd, Burnley’s most expensive signing of the summer at £3million, has been a good addition. But the running man appears to be running on empty in recent weeks; Marvin Sordell and Lukas Jutkiewicz have struggled for an impact.

Steven Reid and Matt Taylor were brought in for their previous experience but have had limited game time. Michael Keane, Burnley’s only January signing when his loan move from Manchester United was made permanent, is one for the future.

Ings will go in the summer, but Burnley may face an even bigger rebuilding job in the event of playing Championship football come August having seen the likes of Kieran Trippier, Jason Shackell and Tom Heaton perform consistently well in the top flight.

It is all ifs, buts and maybes for the Clarets at this stage.

The only guarantee is that they will keep fighting until the very end.

There was certainly no lack of effort in defeat to West Ham.

Enner Valencia should have given the home side an early lead but failed to connect with Aaron Cresswell’s left wing cross. Taylor responded against his old club, but having got to the byline missed the ball in trying to cross and went to ground.

His delivery for Ings was pinpoint though, curling the ball in from the left and into the box, where the striker launched himself at it but could not keep his free header down.

The Hammers had their chance from the penalty spot soon after, when Valencia sent a perfectly weighted pass for the wily Kouyate to run onto, only to be brought down by Duff.

Noble sent Heaton the wrong way from 12 yards, but the Burnley stopper recovered to make two fine saves to prevent Valencia and Morgan Amalfitano from doubling the Hammers’ lead.

At the other end, Adrian was a frustrating match for Barnes’ powerful header from Trippier’s corner just after the half-hour.

Burnley began the second half with more attacking intent and Ings got in behind Cresswell, but the striker could only fire into the side netting.

West Ham continued to knock on the door but Trippier defended the box well, Shackell got his body in the way and Mee weighed in with blocks and interceptions.

Substitute Carlton Cole had two chances to kill the game, missing one, denied by Heaton for the other.

But West Ham had done enough.

Their first win in five Premier League games has left Burnley needing nothing less than maximum points from their last three. Even so, avoiding the drop now seems pretty unlikely.