A fan's-eye view from Turf Moor, with Stephen Cummings

WHEN I began writing this column in 1996, I remarked that there was no single phenomenon in the town which meant so much to so many of its inhabitants as did Burnley Football Club.

Four years later on, I have witnessed nothing which has changed my mind. Those who reside in the Claret and Blue half of East Lancashire possess a passion for the club which at times borders on the fanatical. And that is no exaggeration.

This season alone, the fans have turned out in some force and given some magnificent backing to the team at the likes of Luton, Wigan, Bury and most memorably the FA Cup victory at Derby County.

To that list of venues Notts County must now be added. I am not the greatest judge of attendances, but a conservative estimate would suggest that Burnley were responsible for half of the 8,000 or so inside Meadow Lane on Monday.

That 4,000 people would give up their Bank Holiday to make the trek to Nottingham is admirable. It was then a great shame that their endeavour was not rewarded with something better than a 2-0 defeat. And after a less than impressive set of results over the holiday period, some of the fans are getting a little edgy.

The main concern is not with the attack: Five goals, a missed penalty and an abundance of chances created in the last three fixtures suggests the Clarets are as potent as ever going forward. Nor is the problem in midfield. Although, whilst we are on the subject, it should be stressed that Glen Little must play nowhere else but the right wing where he can mesmerise and terrorise in equal measure. Deploying him elsewhere is a criminal waste of his abundant talents.

The chief worry is the defence. Given that Stan Ternent is our manager and that prior to Boxing Day the Clarets had one of the tightest defences in the division, this is not a remark which will be lost on students of irony. The problem clearly needs addressing. The immediate restoration of Tom Cowan to the side either at left back or centre back would help immensely. As would marking opposition strikers who venture into our penalty area.

As for Saturday, let's hope Stan has cured the millennium bug which is currently plaguing our back four. Coventry are not unbeatable, this is the FA Cup after all, and as for the supporters...well, that's one thing we needn't worry about.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.