Burnley play Barnsley at Turf Moor on Tuesday night after already playing them twice this season. They will be hoping for a third-time lucky win this time after a disappointing draw back in November at Oakwell followed by a 1-0 defeat there in the FA Cup 3rd round tie in January.
The Pre-amble:
The Clarets play-offs hopes remain slim at the moment but whilst there is still a mathematical chance we have to go for it. Burnley are currently in 11th spot and at long last broke a six game run without a win at their seventh attempt after beating Charlton 1-0 at ‘The Valley` last Saturday. The victory though still keeps the Clarets eight points behind the sixth-placed club, Brighton who also have a game in hand. Basically we can`t afford to lose any more points especially at home with just 11 games of the season now remaining. It looks a tall order but next up is Barnsley at home this Tuesday night. The Tykes have been struggling this season and are currently fourth from bottom just one point ahead of the drop zone. This is actually the third time we have played them this season and we have yet to beat them. The Oakwell effect no doubt had some contribution to play as usual on this bogey ground but we could only manage a poor draw in the Championship clash there back in November. It got even worse for the Clarets when we returned to this ground for the FA Cup 3rd Round clash in January this year. A late goal by Danny Rose gave the Tykes a 1-0 victory with Burnley reduced to ten-men following the controversial sending-off of Brian Stock in the first half in a classic case of mistaken identity!
The Tykes home form seems to be letting them down at the moment but Burnley will need to be wary of David Flitcroft`s men on the road! They have won four of their last six games away from home and drawn another. A couple of those wins were FA Cup games but one of those was an impressive 1-0 win over Hull. They may have lost their last Championship game away to struggling Bristol City 5-3 but they have also recently beaten high-flying Middlesbrough 3-2 at the Riverside and also defeated Blackpool 2-1 at Bloomfield Road. The Tykes have conceded eight goals though in back-to-back defeats, and are in danger of losing three games on the bounce. Burnley will have to make sure they do!
Burnley Team News:
Sean Dyche is waiting on the fitness of midfield trio Ross Wallace (knee), Chris McCann (hamstring) and Dean Marney (calf) before deciding on his starting eleven and tactics. All three were absent against Charlton at ‘The Valley` last Saturday but Burnley still managed to win in one of their most impressive displays in sometime so Dyche might be tempted to stick with the same eighteen. Michael Duff and Ben Mee are also on the treatment table and look set to miss out again. Mee though is thought to be close to a return.
Player to watch: Martin Paterson
Paterson played his best game for many months on Saturday and looked much more effective up front partnering Charlie Austin. He was unlucky to have a goal scratched off for offside but was lively and effective for most of the game. Hopefully that form will continue against Barnsley.
Barnsley Team News:
Long throw expert, Rory Delap on loan from Stoke looks close to making a comeback for the Tykes, but defender Jimmy McNulty has been ruled out. Midfielder Stephen Dawson is a long-term absentee and has been suffering from an ankle injury. Although now back in training for the first time since injury, he looks set to miss out again.
Player to watch: Chris Dagnell
26 year old striker, Chris Dagnell is currently Barnsley`s joint leading goal-scorer with departed striker, Craig Davies who is now at Bolton. Both have notched up nine goals so far in all competitions. Dagnall signed for Barnsley from Scunthorpe United for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract in January 2012 but spent the few months of last season on loan at Bradford City before making an impression for the Tykes this season
Team & Tactics:
If Wallace, McCann and Marney are deemed fit enough to play, it is anybody`s guess what the line-up will be. I suspect Marney or McCann if fit could replace Bartley in midfield. Bartley was probably the least impressive on Saturday at ‘The Valley`. David Edgar though did an admirable job in the midfield role against Charlton and it would be a shame if he also lost his place. With such a convincing win after going six games without victory, Dyche might be tempted to keep the same starting eleven and there is an argument that says he should with confidence high after such an impressive performance. I will assume one of the central midfielders will make it with Bartley returning to the bench and will predict this line-up :
Grant, Trippier, Shackell, Long, Lafferty, Edgar, Stanislas , Bartley (or McCann or Marney if fit), Kacaniklic, Paterson, Austin
Subs: Jensen, O’Neill, Mills, Stock or Bartley, Treacy (or Wallace if fit), Ings, Vokes.
I would hope that Paterson once again would partner Austin up front supported by Stanislas on the right wing and new boy, Kacaniklic on the left with the midfield once again playing a sort of diamond formation. It seemed to work on Saturday and we looked a lot more sharp and effective.
Ref Watch:
East Yorkshire referee, Carl Boyeson takes charge of this one. This season he has been quite modest in his card showing with just two players sent off in 26 games with another 57 having seen yellow. His last game involving the Clarets was back in August this season when we lost 3-2 on the road against Middlesbrough. That day just two yellow cards were dished out.
Match Prediction:
Burnley fans are probably sick and tired of playing Barnsley this season. The two games at Oakwell were pretty dire and we will all be hoping for a much better performance at home. The Clarets will be buoyed up by their first win in seven games against Charlton at ‘The Valley` last Saturday and hopefully they can now get a back-to-back win and keep the pressure up on the top six, not to mention Blackburn Rovers. 3-0 Clarets and Tyke That!!
Next Match:
The Clarets have another home game next this time against Hull City. It is a rearranged fixture after Sky Sports decided to cover the game live. It has been moved from the Saturday to a night match on Monday 11th March (Kick-Off-7:45pm)
