Yes that banner turned what was obviously a strong dislike into pure hatred for that club. It went beyond banter and the fact the club allowed it to stay there just fuelled the hatred even more. Don't forget we were light years behind them at the time and there was a good possibility it could have kept clocking up forever. Oh and didn't the media just love to remind us.
I'm a bit confused how the rag shitehouses that made that banner were never paid a visit and told to get rid.
A copy should be made and shown to new players as a brief history and put in the dressing room.before every derby.
If their drought continues a good compromise would be a banner saying, " We were going to start a countdown clock, but we have more class." Or similar.