OUR man at Burnley FC, Pete Barrow, caused quite a stir with his column this week arguing that the trouble he saw at the recent game against Millwall at the New Den was the exception, rather that the rule.

Here we we highlight some of the comments from fans of not only a Claret and Blue persuasion, but followers of the Lions, as well as Pete's reply.

Message from Pete Barrow:

The New Den reverberated to the sound of the song "We are Millwall, no one likes us, we don't care" on plenty of occasions when they faced Burnley on Saturday. I am sure no Lions fan will deny that.

However, the reaction to my article shows that Millwall fans do care.

I accepted in the article that problems exist at plenty of other clubs, but what happened at the New Den is not par for the course - at least from my experience attending matches all over the country over the last two decades.

I accept the valid points that have been made, Millwall FC were more than welcoming and the majority of the fans went to watch a football match.

I am sure those who have reacted are the people who love to watch football and I hope my next visit to the New Den will be incident free - as you probably do having the interests of the Lions totally at heart.

Fans Comments:

I am writing to complain about your scurrilous and ill-informed attack on Millwall fans which appears on the This Is Lancashire website.

As a Lions fan and a national newspaper journalist I am disgusted by your 'report' which paints an inaccurate picture of our club, its fans and the area in which it is based.

Paul Jiggins

I always interested to read an away fans' view of their visit to the New Den, but this is the first time I have been compelled to write.

Whilst I agree we do have a problem with our fans, to say that we are "the exception" is grossly wide of the mark.

To paint your own Burnley fans as angels is a joke for a start. Tell me, what did happen when you met you dearly beloved neighbours Blackburn last year ? Tea parties all round was it?

Hmm, I think not.

Danny Ruler

I wouldn't disagree with your sentiments regarding Millwall's supporters.

Millwall was crossed off my list of away games years ago.

However I don't think Burnley fans should feel too smug about our attitude to the opposition fans.

I have friends who support Blackburn and Preston North End and they regard a visit to Turf Moor with almost as much apprehension as they would a trip to the New Den.

Keith Taylor

I am fed up with the association that because I support Millwall I must be a hooligan. This is mainly because of slanted press reporting, exaggerating the extent of trouble at Millwall and playing down incidents elsewhere.

I don't care for the people who perpetrate the violence but I don't know them and couldn't stop them anyway.

If I could think of an effective way to eliminate the hooligan element at Millwall I would do something.

David Church

As a Millwall supporter and publisher/editor of one of the Millwall fanzines, I feel I should contact you on your article entitled 'Lions violence is the exception'.

Rarely have I read anything as biased, unsupported by actual fact and altogether ridiculous as this piece.

Mike George

I still travel to as many Millwall games as possible. The club has done more than most to eradicate the "hooligan" problem.

I have visited Turf Moor and found the atmosphere intimidating both inside and outside of the ground.

However I don't blame Burnley FC or all of Lancashire, it was probably the work of a couple of mindless morons.

Tim Carter

Upon reading your article on the Millwall game I was deeply offended by the fact that you seem to accuse all Millwall fans to be thugs.

Your beloved Burnley fans were no angels during the game last week I'm sure you'll agree.

Not suggesting that two wrongs make a right, but please don't show such blinkered views.

David Martin

Take a look at Pete's original article...