A LARGE part of the appeal of this great game of ours lies in its unpredictability.

There cannot, for example, have been many Clarets fans who would have envisaged Burnley emerging from Highfield Road on Saturday evening with a clean sheet -- particularly as the game followed on from last week's lamentable display against Reading.

Yet that's just what they did. And the first away win since mid-October was thoroughly deserved.

All the qualities that were so sadly lacking seven days earlier were there in abundance against the Sky Blues.

The sizeable travelling contingent was treated to a display of sheer grit and determination that stirred memories of the kind of performances the Clarets regularly turned in during the promotion season of 1999/2000.

Nowhere was this steely resolve more in evidence than among Burnley's back four.

Branch, Cox, Diallo and West formed a formidable quartet. Even on the rare occasions on which Coventry managed to breach the barrier, they were usually thwarted by a last-ditch outstretched leg belonging to either Cox or Diallo.

Indeed, the more one sees Drissa in action, the more one wonders why this particular gem has remained unearthed during his career -- particularly when witnessing some of the lame displays that pass for defending in the top flight. His decision to sign on for the remainder of the season is good news for all concerned. Hopefully, something more long term can be negotiated over the summer.

In the meantime, Sunday's game looms on the horizon. With all the talent at their disposal, Fulham should progress to the quarter finals of the FA Cup. That at least is the theory.

But theories do not always translate into practice. Witness Burnley dumping Spurs out of the Worthington Cup a few months ago.

Their position in the Premiership suggests the homeless Cottagers are by no means unbeatable and given the resilience shown by the Clarets at Coventry, a draw would not be out of the question. Still, win, lose or draw, at least we have made the last 16, which is a position not everybody finds themselves in -- take Blackburn Rovers for example.

Hot on the heels of providing rich comedy in the form of being the only side to lose at Upton Park since anyone can remember, they surpassed themselves by prat-falling out of the FA Cup.

Magically, Rovers somehow managed to reduce the usually tense and dramatic penalty shoot out to base comedy as not one, not two but three consecutive penalties were missed (congratulations on your consistency, boys), followed by the hilarious sight of Brad Friedel all but throwing the decisive Sunderland spot kick into his own net.

If there is one consolation for our neighbours, it must be that judging by the empty swathes of seats where the Rovers fans were meant to be sat, not many of them were there to witness the whole sorry affair. Maybe they can screen it on Rover Vision next time out.