Turf's pride and groom

DEVOTION to the Burnley cause often deserves a prize. But surely there should be some special reward for spending a chunk of your wedding day viewing a knockabout pre-season friendly?

However, that's how a couple of Turf Moor stewards chose to toast their nuptials on a summer afternoon when a traditional champagne reception must have seemed a pretty tempting alternative.

Warm-up matches such as this are never a barometer of anything in particular. Managers fiddle with their systems and the players often seem content to fill up the fitness tank rather than send the needle into the red zone.

Yet over 4,000 fans joined the wedding party at Turf Moor in what was essentially a raising of the glass to new manager Steve Cotterill.

And Stan Ternent's successor must have felt as proud as the groom himself after being awarded a standing ovation and asked to high-five fans on his maiden walk to the home dug-out.

It won't always be like that, and the manager himself is realistic enough to know that keeping these demanding fans happy will be a thankless task at times.

Indeed, Cotterill chose his first programme notes to warn: "We know things are going to be tough this season. I expected that when I took the job and I hope everyone else sees that.

"The chairman, chief executive and directors have done remarkably well over the past 12 to 18 months to keep Burnley Football Club alive.

"Without them, there may not even be a football club and we have to work through this to come out stronger sooner, rather than later."

No stone has so far been left unturned in Cotterill's quest to assemble a squad capable of the rigours of First Division football.

John McGreal was effectively snared within hours of the new manager's appointment, while the disappointment of missing out several other targets has since been eased by the signings of former Cheltenham defender Michael Duff and ex-Leicester City and Grimsby Town goalkeeper Danny Coyne.

That trio will unquestionably help to stiffen up the spine of a side that left last season's number one, Brian Jensen, with backache far too often.

But it is already glaringly apparent that Cotterill will need to work much more magic in a flooded transfer market to strengthen his hand and stick to the "sooner" of his initial rallying call.

A telling glance at the match day programme shows just 14 numbers with names assigned to them - Dundee United's squad reversed those digits to list an amazing 41!

However, the belief that Cotterill will eventually achieve his aim should stem directly from the fact that his new signings already look the business.

McGreal bears the confident swagger of a defensive rock, while Duff impressed enough on his debut to hint at an athletic defender fully capable of jumping two divisions.

What Cotterill could really have done without is an instant injury concern, which predictably arrived with less than 90 seconds on the clock against dogged Scottish Premier League opponents.

Ian Moore fell awkwardly while contesting an aerial ball and badly twisted his ankle to quickly end his involvement and sideline him for around a week of pre-season conditioning.

That signalled the early arrival of French trialist Cyril Eboki-Poh, who helped liven proceedings up with some dazzling footwork and nifty turns.

The former Cannes striker did appear to possess just one good foot and lack of genuine aerial threat, but with a 'goal' chalked off for offside and several other contributions of note, he may well be worth another look.

As for the real noteworthy moments, Dundee exposed Burnley as early as the third minute to take the lead. A sweeping six-man move ended with Billy Dodds feeding Barry Robson and the midfielder lashing the ball past Jensen from 20 yards.

Richard Chaplow, much more like his usual busy self after a quiet opening game at Accrington last weekend, came close to levelling with a rasping drive, and McGreal had a header superbly saved before the trusty boot of Robbie Blake finally restored parity.

The new Burnley captain was fouled 25 yards out and last season's 22-goal striker dusted himself down to blast the resulting free-kick straight into the bottom left hand corner of Tony Bullock's goal.

Eboki-Poh instantly had a close-range finish chalked off for offside after Duff's angled drive was parried into the Frenchman's path by Bullock.

And typically, United inflicted instant punishment on the home side as Grady fortuitously deflected Mark Kerr's mis-hit free-kick past a startled Jensen to end the scoring.

After the break, Tony Grant came close to forcing a deserved second equaliser before Graham Branch - excelling in a novel central midfield role - reverted to a target man to tee up Blake for a great chance that Bullock did well to block.

Chaplow then brought the save of the afternoon from Bullock with a vicious half volley that the former Ross County stopper finger-tipped for a corner.

And the final chance to salvage something from a good work-out went begging four minutes from time when substitute Matt O'Neill dragged his shot across goal after another smart interchange between Blake and Branch.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Dave Walton (Lionel Djebi Zadi 68), John McGreal, Mo Camara (Paul Scott 88), Lee Roche, Tony Grant (Neal Trotman 88), Graham Branch, Richard Chaplow (Ryan Townsend 88), Robbie Blake, Ian Moore (Cyril Eboki Poh 6, Matt O'Neill 60). Sub not used: Michael Hale.

Dundee United: Bullock, Wilson, Archibald, Holmes (Jim McIntyre 30), Innes (Steven Bell 48), McCracken, Kerr (Stephen O'Donnell 69), Grady (Aaron Conway 75), Samuel, Dodds (Derek McInnes 45), Robson (Andy McLaren 57). Sub not used: Paul Jarvie.