LAST week presented just about as good a snapshot of the Clarets as you are likely to see.

In a week in which we saw the good and the not so good in equal measure, everything we knew about the current squad was confirmed.

It was the season so far in a nutshell.

Against an excellent Nottingham Forest outfit, Burnley were clearly second best. Other than a 15 minute spell of concerted pressure at the start of the second half (which for all its bluster still only yielded one Paul Weller effort on target), Forest were untroubled.

The Clarets passed the ball well enough at times, but lacked the urgency and thrust of the visitors which was largely given to them by their man-of-the-match midfield power-house, Andy Reid.

Reid pulled the strings all night, providing outstanding service to Harewood and Taylor.

It was pleasing that Taylor was so well received by the Turf Moor crowd on his return - not so pleasing that he repaid us by slotting home Forest's third goal.

The consolation on Tuesday evening was that we would not run into teams the calibre of Nottingham Forest every week.

Cue Bradford City. After 45 minutes of uninspiring fare, enlivened only by Ian Moore's strike, Burnley produced some wonderful stuff as the chances flowed.

Blake and Chadwick were a constant menace to the Bantams and it was fitting that they got their names onto the scoresheet.

All three second half strikes were contenders for goal of the season. Chadwick's efforts from outside the box were spectacular and eye-catching.

But Robbie Blake's finish oozed class as he latched onto Farrelly's incisive pass and nonchalantly flicked the ball home with the outside of his boot.

The returning Marlon Beresford had no chance. In fact he had no chance with any of the goals.

Indeed, the former Burnley keeper had a good game and it was solely down to him that Burnley's goal difference only recovered to minus two by the end of the game.

So there we have it. Two different games and two totally different performances.

And given the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the team, it is perhaps appropriate that Burnley find themselves exactly halfway up (or down) the league table.

Maybe last week was the week which will ultimately describe Burnley's season - not as good as Nottingham Forest, but more than capable of dispatching the Bradford City's of this division.