A SENSE of humour is an essential part of the Burnley supporter's make-up at the moment, writes NEIL BRAMWELL.

So the ironic standing ovation which greeted Burnley's first attempt on goal minutes before the interval demonstrated that the majority of Clarets fans can still show character in the face of adversity.

For this was another day when it was much easier to cry than it was to laugh.

The majority of the 10,000-plus inside Turf Moor only had to endure another dreary and goalless 90 minutes.

An unfortunate minority of shareholders had earlier sat through an absolute shambles of an annual general meeting.

And if the Burnley side ever looks lacking in shape and direction, on the evidence of this display from Mr Teasdale and his board, the players are simply following the lead from the very top.

The issues arising from that meeting will be debated elsewhere and at length.

While many want a quick fix solution, longer term options are at least a possibility.

Chris Waddle, however, needs answers now.

Granted, there was an improvement in the second half.

But it would have been tricky for the display to deteriorate.

Yes, Chesterfield arrived at Turf Moor with all the ambition of a turkey before Christmas.

But sides are not going to wring their own necks.

The one slender thread of hope is that the commitment and attitude of the players is not in question.

The Clarets matched Chesterfield's physical approach but yet again there was precious little to show for their industry.

One major deficiency is the lack of width. The wing back system is designed to exploit the flanks to the full.

But neither Chris Brass nor Chris Vinnicombe were allowed to overlap and stretch the Chesterfield defence.

All too often the long ball was deployed and the quality of that ball was rarely adequate.

As a result the game quickly developed into a dogfight in the centre of the park.

Only when Waddle introduced substitutes Glen Little and Paul Smith did Burnley show an ounce of threat.

Their crosses at least provided scraps on which the front two of Paul Barnes and Andy Cooke could feed.

Of the midfield three, only Damian Matthew - ironically on the transfer list - searched for the unpredictable.

Having said all that, Chesterfield are a horrible side to watch and play against.

John Duncan's men aim to squeeze everything down the middle and rely on good old-fashioned muscle.

Former Preston striker David Reeves typified their display - as industrious as a beaver but as polished as a lump of coal.

He, however, provided the major scare of the first half.

Jonathon Howard had already been ruled offside before poking the ball past an advancing Marlon Beresford.

That decision looked legitimate but, five minutes later, Reeves collected a one-two with Howard to slot an angled shot home on the stretch.

That, too, was disallowed but this time the referee's decision appeared harsh on the visitors.

The next action was a flurry of long range but weak efforts from Brass, Matthew and Cooke which all brought ironic cheers from the home support.

It did, however, serve to indicate that Burnley's attacking intentions were good.

Chesterfield were first to show real menace after the interval, but not until the 58th minute.

Reeves had forced his way to the bye-line and his low cross was allowed to find Chris Perkins at the far post. His mis-kicked shot harmlessly looped into the arms of Beresford.

Both Lee Howey and Vinnicombe should have done better with headers inside the Chesterfield box but there was at least evidence that Burnley were starting to force the pace with the arrival of Smith and Little.

First Smith provided the ammunition for Cooke, steaming in at the far post with a header.

And minutes later a Little free kick was solidly met by Howey who failed to keep his own header down in Burnley's best chance.

Chesterfield wasted a similar opportunity at the other end in the dying minutes Ian Brekin heading over from a Marcus Ebdon cross.

So what are the options for Waddle before his side become marooned at the foot of the table?

I feel 4-4-2 better suits his resources and a central defensive trio was largely wasted on a side showing so little appetite for attack.

Smith must be close to starting a game again and, even in his few minutes on the field, he showed that touch of class so badly needed.

And there seems little point in the manager just sitting on the bench.

As legs fade on the heavier pitches of this time of year, 20 minutes of quality delivery could really test the opposition.

Forthcoming games against Oldham, Gillingham and Watford will all test the collective resolve.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.