THERE are some people who you really should be able to rely on. People who shouldn't let you down.

People like your friends for instance, who really should think about the implications of getting married midway through the football season and inviting you to their evening reception. I mean talk about selfish ...

So it was that your hardy correspondent not only had to miss Burnley's hard-earned victory at the Britannia Stadium, he also missed Dean West's right-footed howitzer, which according to those present as the best goal ever scored in the history of all football - typical!

By the way, what is it about Burnley right-backs and spectacular goals at Stoke? Remember Ally Pickering?

That having been said, although the Burnley supporters who made the short trip to the Potteries waxed lyrical about the quality of Fred's strike, that seemed to be just about the only entertainment on offer at the game as the Clarets went about grinding out a 1-0 win.

Not that anyone was complaining.

Since their 2-5 mauling at the hands of Reading, Burnley have been miserly at the back. Only Steed Malbranque's superlative effort has breached the Clarets' vanguard since the start of February.

The current style of play is more reminiscent of that employed by the promotion-winning Clarets of 1999/2000 and as long as it brings success, long may it continue.

A similar performance and result down at the New Den this evening would go down very nicely, as well as keeping our slim play-off hopes on the boil.

Meanwhile, the town finds itself in the grip of cup fever.

Burnley's full allocation of almost 4,500 tickets was snapped up within 24 hours of going on sale.

Should the Clarets bow out at Vicarage Road, they will still be able to hold their heads high - particularly after the way in which they blew away a feeble Fulham in the previous round of this season's competition.

But this set of players stand on the verge of making history, by becoming the first Burnley side to advance to the last four of the competition since 1974.

Ternent and his charges will relish such an opportunity.

And to be honest, they will never have a better chance. Despite their 2-1 defeat earlier in the season, Burnley have an excellent record against the Hornets and will travel south with no fear.

Backed by a cacophonous Claret choir, there is every chance that Burnley can go a stage further in this competition, both raising the club's profile and massively boosting its coffers with a semi-final appearance. It is, of course, the stuff of dreams.

But as I have previously remarked, dreams are what the FA Cup is built on. Come on, you Clarets!