Charlie Austin returns to Turf Moor on Saturday and it will be odd seeing him play for QPR in their top of the table clash against the Clarets
The Pre-amble:
It will be some battle on Saturday with the top two Championship teams slogging it out at Turf Moor. The Clarets enjoying their best start since 1897 with now seven straight wins and only one defeat so far all season will want to keep in top spot. They are already two points clear of the club they play on Saturday, QPR albeit having played a game more. They are sitting pretty with 29 points from 12 games and a superior goal difference to both QPR and third-place Leicester. The Foxes are three points behind the Clarets so we just need a point against QPR on Saturday to stay top although three points would put us in a commanding position, The clash is an intriguing one with our former striker and last season`s fans favourite, Charlie Austin also returning to Turf Moor to play against his former teammates. Harry Redknapp`s men have not lost on the road this season which is a worry. In their five Championship games away from home they have won three and drawn two. What a game this could be with Burnley also undefeated at home this season. Bring it on!!
Burnley Team News:
Ross Wallace appears to be the only injured player at the moment. He is recovering from surgery to fix a knee ‘wear and tear` injury and is not expected to return until around Christmas.
Player to watch: Danny Ings/Sam Vokes
As it turns out we have basically swopped one impressive striker from last season (Austin) for two (Ings/Vokes) this season! The pair cannot really be separated and are both complementing each other and regularly assisting each other and getting on the score sheet. Between them in all competitions, they have scored 19 goals, with Ings currently our leading goal scorer with 11 goals and Vokes close behind with 8 goals. The scene is set for an interesting comparison on Saturday between the two strike forces with Charlie Austin lining up against the Clarets.
Queens Park Rangers Team News:
32 year old striker, Andy Johnson could play some part on Saturday after featuring in the development squad’s win over Brentford. He missed most of last since with a cruciate ligament injury and has not been involved in the first team since injuring his knee in August. Another striker, Bobby Zamora is still recovering from knee surgery and he is not expected to be in contention until about Christmas.
Winger Matty Phillips also played the whole 90 minutes of the development game against Brentford but has not played first team football since breaking his arm in pre-season whilst still on Blackpool`s books. Queens Park Rangers completed the signing of Phillips for a fee of £5million in August 2013.
QPR this week have signed USA international defender Oguchi Onyewu on a short-term contract. The 31-year-old centre-back, who played 11 times for Newcastle during a loan spell in 2007, was a free agent after leaving Sporting Lisbon this summer. Onyewu, who has won 68 international caps, has been training with the west London club in recent weeks and could be looking to make his debut against the Clarets on Saturday.
Player to watch: Charlie Austin
Austin might not have been as impressive so far for QPR this season as he was last season for the Clarets but he is still their leading goal scorer with seven goals so far in all competitions although a number of these goals have been scored from the penalty spot. The Clarets defence will hopefully know his weaknesses well enough to stifle his goal-scoring opportunities.
Team & Tactics:
Sean Dyche does not appear to have any fresh injury concerns following last Saturday`s win at Ipswich so we can fully expect the same eighteen to be selected.
Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee, Kightly, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Ings, Vokes
Subs: Cisak, Edgar, Lafferty, Long, Stock, Stanislas, Treacy
Ref Watch:
Simon Hooper will be in charge of this clash. His last game involving the Clarets was last season against another London club, Charlton Athletic. We beat them 1-0 on their home soil that day so hopefully that will be a good omen for Saturday. The Wiltshire referee has so far this season sent off just one player in 11 games with another 40 seeing yellow.
Match Prediction:
Well if we win this one, it would be amazing! There is every possibility we could shade this by the odd goal but I would settle for a draw. A point would be enough to stay top so let`s go for 2-2.
Next Match:
The Clarets try and progress to the last eight of the Capital One Cup on the night of Tuesday 29th October. They face a tricky home tie against Premier League, West Ham. (Kick-Off: 7:45pm). They are back on Championship duty the following Saturday 2nd November when they travel down to South Bermondsey, London for a game against Millwall. (Kick-Off: 3pm)
