AS pantomime season is almost upon us, it was perhaps appropriate that Leeds United turned up at Turf Moor on Saturday lunchtime with not one, but two pantomime villains of their own.

Centre stage, of course, was Robbie Blake. When his name was read out prior to kick-off, the initial ripple of polite applause was quickly drowned out by a chorus of boos.

But then if you come out and say that you don't want to play for the club while engineering a move away, supporters are not generally disposed to give you a warm welcome on your return.

His every touch was jeered. Indeed the loudest cheer of the afternoon, other than that for Garreth O'Connor's penalty, came midway through the first half, when Blake poked a one-on-one agonisingly wide of the post. 'You should have gone to Wigan' came the chant.

Further evidence that Blake had lost his demigod status among Burnley supporters came midway through the second half. "We've seen this before," worried one fan as Blake lined up a free kick. "Aye," said his mate as he haplessly crashed it into the wall, "and we've seen that before 'n' all."

Blake may have been the main pantomime villain, but he was very nearly upstaged by his supporting actor and team-mate. Take a bow, Rob Hulse. The striker was having a pretty anonymous afternoon until midway through the first half when for no apparent reason he collapsed in a dishevelled heap in front of the Bob Lord Stand after an innocuous challenge with Brian Jensen.

What followed next was arguably the greatest fit of pique seen on a football pitch since Kurt Nogan threw his shirt at Clive Middlemass down at Ashton Gate a decade ago.

Having failed to con the largely inept referee into awarding a free kick, Hulse treated Turf Moor to a wide repertoire of amateur dramatics not often seen outside Burnley Mechanics.

Boots and socks were flung to the side of the pitch as Hulse flounced to the touchline for a big sulk. A more bizarre piece of cabaret we are unlikely to witness for many a moon.

Sadly, that's where the fun stopped. Garreth O' Connor, Elliott, Spicer and McCann are all relatively inexperienced at this level, and Leeds' midfield had a more accomplished look about it. And then David Healey's not a bad sub to bring on is he?