IT WAS Billy Bragg who sung "There is no real substitute for a ball struck squarely and firmly."

Amen to that. Yes, the football season is upon us again in all its thrilling, tense, wonderful and sometimes disappointing glory.

For Burnley supporters, season 2004/05 has, perhaps, been even more keenly anticipated than many seasons before it. We have a new manager. We have new players. And thanks to Brian Mawhinney and Coca Cola, we even have a ludicrous new name for our division which nobody either wants or likes.

Forty-year-old Steve Cotterill arrives at Turf Moor with a reputation for being one of the brightest young coaches around. He is one of only a dozen or so managers in England who hold the UEFA Pro Coaching badge. Given the thinness of the squad, the manager will need all his practical acumen to guide his new charges through what will be a tough first season at the helm.

Pre-season, Cotterill was espousing the virtues of quality over quantity in relation to new signings. He has stuck to his word. His main priority has been defence. And after the farcical situation of the last couple of seasons, in which the Clarets shipped close on 200 league goals, it needed to be.

The new centre back pairing of McGreal and Sinclair bring a wealth of experience with them. And although the latter arrives with a reputation of scoring own goals, that must be balanced against the fact that he has spent most of his career in the top flight, and is an international footballer. As is right back Michael Duff, new keeper Danny Coyne and Saturday's goalscorer Micah Hyde.

Hyde's first goal in his new colours may not have been the most spectacular strike, but credit the man for being in the right place at the right time. This may be a tough season for Hyde as he has the unenviable task of filling Glen Little's boots, should he continue to play wide on the right.

The draw against Sheffield United offered encouragement and concern in equal measure. For the first half the Clarets looked solid and organised and the visitors struggled to make any impact and we were well worth the lead.

In the second half however, Burnley were prisoners in their own penalty area and struggled to get over the halfway line as Sheffield United coped better in the searing heat. Mercifully, conditions will not be as harsh in the scrapyards of South Yorkshire this evening. Nor will Rotherham provide as stern an examination as Saturday's opponents.