WHAT a great start to the season, and that increasing sense of optimism around the town before the big kick-off has been justified.

I, for one, am full of optimism.

I was confident before Saturday's opener, but another comeback against West Brom - one of the favourites for promotion - and then the signing of David Unsworth really gives the impression that the club is going for it this season.

Unsworth is a very good signing, especially for a year, because of his experience.

The only question mark I have over him at this stage is his fitness.

I've trained on my own and it just doesn't compare to pre-season training with a club.

It's easy to say that's enough' and knock off rather than running against other people and having to do it. I've done it myself.

But I'm sure the management and staff, and Unsworth himself, will work hard to get him up to speed.

Perhaps it's a southern bias, or people not doing their homework, that Burnley have been overlooked as one of the promotion challengers this season.

But continuing to make signings of the calibre of Unsworth will soon make people sit up and take notice.

I've been impressed by all of Steve Cotterill's signings this summer, and those who were involved on Saturday were all part of a good team performance.

I thought that they might go with a front two with Robbie Blake in the hole instead of the orthodox 4-4-2.

It's difficult to know which way managers are going to go. But Steve's got flexibility in the team where he can change it around now.

If we had lost on Saturday I'd be saying it's only one game' but the fact that we've got three points from the first game is a psychological boost, and the difference between the two camps is three points already. Burnley have three points and West Brom are still waiting for their first. It just sets everything off.