THE half-term report for Burnley reads 'Couldn't do much better'. Well, not without a whopping great injection of cash anyhow!

Twenty three games in, following tomorrow's game at Sheffield United, there can't be any Burnley fan seriously downbeat about what he, or she, has seen this season.

In many ways, it's been a half season of two halves, if you get my drift.

The lads began the campaign poorly. Perhaps that's understandable following a summer of wheeling and dealing and all the new lads needed time to settle in and, in many cases, adjust to football at a higher level.

It's no real coincidence then that since the squad has gelled, the results have improved to the extent that we are now one of the most consistent teams in the Championship.

Much credit has to go to Steve Cotterill, whose policy of quality and not quantity had paid off in spades. He vowed not to sign players just for the sake of numbers and that's even applied to the loan signings, which I do feel will be equally, if not more important in the second half of the season.

It's encouraging to hear the manager say he wants to keep Keith Lowe and Nathan Dyer until next summer because they have made a real impact. Dyer has oozed confidence in his brief spell, while Lowe has been almost Gary Cahill-like as defensive cover.

I have to admit I was worried when Wayne Thomas suffered his injury earlier in the season, leaving Frank Sinclair and John McGreal as the main men. The two were always likely to miss certain games, but Lowe has plugged the gaps admirably and having him around would be a real bonus.

Money is naturally tight, so when the transfer window opens again, the loan market could well prove to be Burnley's lifeline and keep things in the melting pot until next Spring.