AS Billy Bragg observed, “There is no real substitute for a ball struck squarely and firmly.”

Following a summer bereft of the methadone substitute of either a World Cup or European Championships to tide over the claret and blue faithful, one might have thought that sentiment should have rung truer than usual.

Yet the close season was a muted affair, doing little to whet the appetite of supporters.

Granted, Eddie Howe performed urgent and necessary surgery on the squad.

The departures of Clarke Carlisle and Graham Alexander to the increasingly hilarious PNE lowered the average age of the group, the ‘troubled’ Kevin MacDonald has been moved on and the regrettable but inevitable exits of Tyrone Mears and Chris Eagles have at least brought in some money.

Yet there has been little in the way of incoming transfer activity to either quicken the pulse or raise hopes of a return to the sunny uplands of the Premier League.

Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee, arriving in tandem from Eastlands, are largely unknown quantities. Only the capture of Preston’s prize asset, Keith Treacy, has fired the imagination.

Even the weather seemed unenthusiastic on Saturday.

Grey skies and squally showers were the order of the afternoon; dozy defending allowing Watford to accrue a two-goal advantage.

Still, just as Turf Moor’s floodlights pierced the gloom, there were some rays of light to take from the game.

Trippier bombed on in much the same way as the player he was brought in to replace – and looks to have better delivery into the bargain.

Mee was deserving of his man of the match accolade.

And Treacy showed flashes of genuine class.

Tonight’s visit of Burton Albion provides the Clarets with an excellent opportunity of progressing into the next round of the Carling Cup.

Having reached the semi finals three seasons ago, Burnley supporters need no reminder about the feel-good factor a good cup run can bring to the club.

See today's paper for the Paul Fletcher and Dave Burnley columns.