A fan's-eye view from Turf Moor, with Stephen Cummings

I'LL tell you what, those Derby fans are a sensitive bunch. Regular readers of this column will recall that last week I had a bit of fun at Derby's expense following the FA Cup draw.

I called them boring, claiming their side lacked glitz, glamour and super-stars, and suggested certain of their playing staff had funny sounding names (Mart Poom, Stefan Schnoor and Rory Delap to name but three).

Most people took it for what it was - a light-hearted piece written with tongue firmly in cheek.

However, there are those who did not appreciate my humble attempts at gentle humour. The offending article was picked up and posted on a Derby County website. To say I upset Rams fans would be a massive understatement. In excess of 100 e-mails have since been sent to the offices of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph. The milder responses have suggested I review my opinions.

Then there are the more pithy and vitriolic correspondents who urge me to engage in what I have hitherto imagined to be gynaecological impossibilities.

Those who run the website weren't the only people with their ear close to the ground.

Pretty soon BBC Radio Derby wanted a slice of the action. So your correspondent found himself hauled out of bed at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning in an attempt to explain the concept of comedy to the good burghers of Derby over the airways. (Still, somebody at Pride Park must have a sense of humour. How else to explain the comical decision to charge travelling Clarets fans £19 for a seat?) Not that it ends there. Tomorrow evening I shall be appearing on a special edition of Newsnight, where Jeremy Paxman and I will discuss whether or not there is a place for humour in the modern game. (The answer by the way is, yes, but not on Derby County websites).

But enough of that nonsense. It would be remiss to close this week's column without a mention of Burnley's excellent display on Saturday at league leaders Wigan.

Ternent is spot on with his comments about how far we have progressed in less than 12 months. Saturday should have removed any lingering doubts that this season the Clarets are the real deal and are in great shape to make the promotion push.

Who knows, we may well be playing Derby County in the League next season. . .

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.