Football: Cooke and Burnley thrive on the sense of occasion

Derby County 0 Burnley 1

JIM SMITH was already on an aircraft when Saturday's match-winner, Andy Cooke, revealed that Burnley always expected to bring Derby County down to earth.

It was perhaps as well that the Derby manager was jetting out of the country on a scouting mission - Cooke's words made uncomfortable listening for the Premiership strugglers.

"I think they lacked confidence," he said. "Without being disrespectful to them, there couldn't have been a better time to come here."

The veteran defender Gordon Armstrong was even harsher. "We have been looking forward to this game since the draw was made and we never really feared coming here," he said. "I think it meant more to us than to the Derby lads. I wouldn't want to knock them but the statistics of the tackles in the game say it all."

Burnley's reward is a trip to Coventry in the fourth round, and their right to be there was beyond question. Those who claim the competition has lost some of its magic should have been at Pride Park. Burnley's travelling army of 4,648 fans - many of them in Father Christmas outfits - gave the game a sense of occasion and the winning goal came from a player who four years ago was a semi-professional.

Cooke was a pounds 40,000 recruit from the League of Wales club Newtown and his success at Turf Moor is an example to all players aiming to break into the big time. "I have worked hard to get where I am now and I've no intention of going back to where I came from," he said.

"I always believed I had the ability to make it at this level. I always said that if you have the commitment you can make it. Players like Ian Wright did not come into the game until late so it doesn't worry me.

"The FA Cup still means a lot to the players. It's a great tradition and I don't know anyone who doesn't want to be involved in days like this."

The Derby assistant manager, Billy McEwan, knows his side were second best. "The players know in no uncertain terms that we are not pleased with this result," he admitted. "They are all professionals and I would hope they have pride in their performance. Between now and the next game at Leicester, everyone - the coaching staff included - has to have a good look in the mirror."

Goal: Cooke (62) 0-1.

Derby County: Poom, Borbokis (Beck, 61), Carbonari, Elliott, Dorigo, Burley, Powell, Nimni (Burton, 79), Kinkladze (Johnson, 61), Delap, Sturridge. Substitutes not used: Hoult (gk), Bohinen.

Burnley: Crichton, West, Davis, Thomas, Armstrong (Jepson, 83), Mellon, Cook (Johnrose, 87), Little, Mullin, Cooke, Payton (Branch, 77). Substitutes not used: Weller, Brass (gk).

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Bookings: Derby: Delap. Burnley: Thomas, Cook, Armstrong.

Man of the match: Cooke.

Attendance: 23,400.