Clarets have nothing to fear...not even Roy Keane's balls

Since Burnley battled and beat the long ball of Sheffield United on Monday night there has been an air of optimism around the town.

People finally believe we are on the verge of something special.

Today the Clarets travel to Southampton; the town whose docks launched the Titanic are to be sunk into English football’s third tier while Owen Coyle’s men need to take heed of Guy Havard’s immortal words at Plymouth in 1994 and “set sail to the promise land”.

And nobody could say they didn’t deserve a shot at the playoffs.

The one nil victory against the Blades at the Turf shows that Burnley have nobody to fear in the top six.

With Wolves promoted and Birmingham a win against Preston away from an automatic ticket to Premier League riches, it leaves Sheffield United, Reading, Cardiff and Burnley (fingers crossed) as the final four to duel for the final spot in the top flight.

If those three were to be our potential opponents I would be confident that we could beat any of them over two legs and at a Wembley showpiece.

Not that I’m getting carried away, there’s still plenty to be done but I’d challenge any fan not to start believing our play off place in the top six is almost as certain Roy Keane upsetting someone in the near future.

The Irishman returned to football this week looking as much as ever like an action man doll and with an agenda to set a bunch of records straight.

Given his looks it would not be surprising to hear that Keano’s undercarriage was made of smooth, shiny plastic but you only need to hear him speak to realise there’s a couple of very big balls down there.

And Keane is prepared to use them. His introduction to the media was candidly aggressive, as he spoke of his limited success as a manager, the comparisons with his former team-mates Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes, his differences with the board at Sunderland, as well as a dig at comedy Irishmen Tony Cascarino.

Although he has since apologised to his former team mates (not you Cas), the Roy Keane we know and love is back and ready to rant and rocket Ipswich up the Championship table.

There is no doubt Ipswich will be an improved side next term but even if Owen Coyle’s men are still hanging around the Championship come August there will be no trepidation when it comes to the testosterone Keane will instil in his Tractor Boys.

The pride of Turf Moor is certainly back and can only get stronger as Captain Coyle continues to steer the ship.

And with him at the helm, the golden sandy beaches of Premier League shores are so close we can almost see them from the poop deck.