The Andy Lochhead column. . .

IF THERE'S one man suffering more than most from Burnley's current predicament, it's the manager.

I've known Stan for years and he can be an intensely private man who often keeps his thoughts to himself.

I'm sure he will have been enduring a few sleepless night recently, wondering if there are things he might have done differently.

But the latest punishment of a four match touchline ban and £3,000 fine is nothing short of an absolute scandal.

What is it with referees these days that they can't take criticism? I remember the FA Cup game in question, where he argued with referee Graham Laws at half time after Gillingham tried to kick a few of the Burnley lads into orbit.

Why not just take the abuse on the chin instead of running to the FA like a kid telling tales out of school?

It's high time refs took a good look at themselves instead of punishing teams through bad decisions and suspensions.

Livelihoods can hinge on such decisions, and seeing Stan sat in the stands for four crucial matches hardly helps the Clarets cause.

But if I know Stan, he will remain unswerving in his belief that HIS team can still beat the drop.

Despite every barrier - financial and otherwise - that's been thrown in his path this season, he has battled on and achieved a miracle to even keep the club in with a chance of staying up.

Now we're in the home straight, I can't think of anyone better to be leading the race for the line.

Certainly Saturday throws up an interesting comparison with Bradford manager Bryan Robson.

Here is a modern manager who not that long ago was being touted as the next big thing - either as a future Manchester United, or even an England manager.

But it all went horribly wrong for him at Middlesbrough. When they bring another man in to help you, as they did with Terry Venables, they might as well sack you there and then because your days are numbered.

It will have been a huge kick in the teeth, especially for a former England captain with such a fantastic playing pedigree.

But football is a results orientated business and maybe it's therefore no surprise it subsequently took Bryan so long to find another job.

Many will have read between the lines and declared him 'damaged goods', before Bradford finally backed him.

I certainly don't think he will see his long term future lies at Valley Parade, but for now he has to pit his wits with one of the canniest managers in the game and I know where my money lies.

We clearly need to respect Bradford because they have picked up some decent results at home lately.

But we also need to remember City are below us in the table. If you take the stance that the table doesn't lie, that means we are a better team.

What better time to prove that and put all those sleepless nights to bed once and for all.