The Clarets will regain second spot if they manage to beat Millwall at home this Saturday although if could only be for a couple of days if QPR pick up points away to 4th placed Derby on Monday.
The Pre-amble:
The Clarets will be buoyed up by their excellent point and performance away to second-placed QPR at Loftus Road last Saturday. It was enough for them to remain in third spot still three points behind the Rs but now 13 points behind Leicester albeit with a game in hand. The Foxes continue to keep winning and look to be running away with it at the moment with most clubs in the chase now realistically eyeing the coveted second automatic promotion place. At the moment five clubs look to be in contention for the top two slots. Leicester, QPR and Burnley are now being chased down by local rivals Derby and Nottingham Forest. Forest in 5th are just three points behind the Clarets with Derby in 4th spot just one point behind. There is no room therefore for any slip ups this Saturday with struggling Millwall the visitors to Turf Moor. Once again three points are vital to keep up our hopes of automatic promotion come May and we need to put in a good home performance following two disappointing home draws against Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton.
Millwall now have a high-profile manager following the appointment of the charismatic Ian Holloway in early January. He replaced Steve Lomax following a poor run of form which saw Millwall picking up just one point and losing six of their previous seven matches. The results since Holloway`s appointment have not exactly set the world alight though with only one win and one draw from his four games at the helm so far. The Lions have the worst goal difference (minus 26) and leakiest defence in the Championship having conceded 54 goals in 28 matches so far this season including three at home to Reading in their last match. That 3-0 defeat may well have deflated the Lions who will not be relishing playing against a side undefeated at home this season in the league with a goal difference (plus 19) the second best in the Championship. It will be interesting to see how much fight the Lions can manage to muster and fight they must with the team precariously fourth from bottom just two points away from the drop zone with all bottom three clubs having played one game less. Burnley will still need to keep a cool head but we really do need to add to the Lions woes and make sure they do not get a chance to roar. Burnley have a better goal difference than QPR by three clear goals so a win would ensure we would move back into second spot. The Rs do not play until Monday night and they face a tricky away game against fourth-placed Derby. If QPR pick up points though we will be back in third spot by Monday night and if Derby win let`s hope we have not dropped any points against the Lions or the Rams will overtake us. It`s all getting rather too tight up at the top!
Burnley Team News:
Sean Dyche appears to have the luxury of a full squad to choose from. Ross Wallace, who was sidelined since August following knee surgery to correct a ‘wear and tear` injury made a return to the bench against QPR last Saturday although did not feature. He might be hoping to see some action against the Lions and could be pushing for a starting eleven spot. Another of our wingers though may have something to say about that! Keith Treacy is expected to be fit again and in contention after recovering from a slight neck injury.
“Keith just purely ricked his neck but he`s had a good week so he`s back into consideration,” Dyche said.
Player to watch: Danny Ings
Ings should have a field day against a team with the poorest defensive record in the league and indeed let`s hope with his striker partner, Sam Vokes also in top form we can get a panful of goals on Saturday.
Millwall Team News:
Defender Shane Lowry is suspended following a red card against Sheffield Wednesday at home two games ago.
Holloway has also already ruled out midfielder, Nicky Bailey (back spasm) and goalkeeper, David Forde (thigh). The Lions will also be without defender, Danny Shittu who has gone down with a sore groin. Holloway can however welcome back former Clarets midfielder Richard Chaplow who has missed the last three games with a calf injury and striker Jermaine Easter has also recovered from a foot injury.
In midfield, the gaffer will also be hoping that his January signings have the desired impact, and Edward Upson is expected to be handed his debut in midfield alongside fellow new signing Shaun Williams.
Player to watch: Ed Upson
Burnley were linked with a move for Yeovil midfielder, Ed Upson in the January window but the 24 year old instead joined Millwall for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal. If he makes his debut on Saturday, it will be interesting to see what all the fuss was about!
Team & Tactics:
Sean Dyche might be tempted to name the same eighteen following their success away to QPR last Saturday although he could be considering who to play out wide with all his wingers now fully fit. I would think though he could be more tempted to keep an unchanged side in view of the very creditable performance and well-earned point against the Rs at Loftus Road a week ago. I will go with the following line-up :
Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee, Kightly, , Marney, Jones, Arfield, Ings, Vokes
Subs: From Cisak, Long, Lafferty, Edgar, Stock, Treacy ,Stanislas, Wallace, Barnes
It is certainly going to be competitive now out on the flanks with Kightly, Arfield, Wallace, Treacy and Stanislas all fighting for the two places.
Ref Watch:
Hampshire referee Keith Stroud is in charge of this clash. This will be his first game involving the Clarets since October 2010 when once again the opposition was Millwall. That match though was played at the New Den and you may remember he sent off Clarke Carlisle that day in a game that finished 1-1. Another three players saw yellow! This season in his 25 games so far, 7 players have been sent off and another 113 have picked up yellow cards so we can expect quite a few cautions on Saturday if these stats are anything to go by!
Match Prediction:
It really is time to send out a signal to those teams around us that we still mean business. A convincing win against a struggling side looking over their shoulders at the relegation places would be just the right message. We need a win at home especially following two consecutive disappointing draws although there is no room for complacency and we will still need to be on our guard. I have a feeling we will turn the heat up on Saturday following the excellent point away to QPR last Saturday. I am going with 4-1 to the Clarets and why not?
Next Match:
Burnley play their rearranged game away to Bolton on the night of Tuesday 11th February (Kick-Off: 8pm) before continuing their travels with a long journey down to the South Coast to play Bournemouth on Saturday 15th February (Kick-Off: 3pm)
