I WAS intrigued by the veritable array of responses (Sports Letters, February 13) concerning the ill-fated comments of Derby fan S Nightingale the previous week.

For 12 of the 15 letters to concern the same topic was rather excessive, I thought.

And I must point out that winning away in the FA Cup at Derby doesn't constitute much in the way of a major football scalp these days.

Let's not forget even Burnley won there only last season in the same competition and were another division lower.

And, while not wishing to suffer the same humiliating fate as Mr Nightingale, I would go as far as to say that I don't think Blackburn will go up this season, either via the play-offs, Inter-Toto Cup or any avenue you care to mention.

Because, of all the teams in the top half of Division One, Rovers have already lost at West Bromwich, Sheffield United, Fulham and Nottingham Forest and they still have to go to Birmingham, Watford, Bolton and Preston.

CHRIS BIRCH, Forfar Street, Burnley.