Can the Clarets continue their remarkable start to the season? Second in the table they now face lowly Charlton at Turf Moor this Saturday eager to keep their promotion dreams alive.
The Pre-amble:
Burnley can do no wrong at the moment. They are in stupendous form and are riding high in the Championship in second spot on seventeen points from eight games just three behind league leaders, QPR. Also this week they beat a team some fancied for automatic promotion at the start of the season, Nottingham Forest. The Clarets came from a goal down to beat Forest 2-1 in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night and are now in the last sixteen of the competition. There is no doubt about it Sean Dyche has moulded this team into a highly organised, motivated unit and at the moment the only concern is the depth of the squad with injuries and suspensions more likely to upset the applecart. The Clarets now face on paper two relatively easy games although it`s always dangerous to say that in the Championship. They travel to struggling 19th placed Doncaster on Tuesday night but this Saturday play Charlton at Turf Moor.
The Addicks have had a poor start to the season and although they have a game in hand are currently in 20th spot with just five points from seven games. Charlton have lost their last two games and have not won a match since the end of August when they notched up a 2-1 victory over 10-man Leicester City. Chris Powell’s men are also only one point off the drop zone and they will be keen to get something at Turf Moor and ease their relegation concerns. Bring it on!!
Burnley Team News:
Ross Wallace remains sidelined with a knee injury following surgery to fix a ‘wear and tear` problem. He is targeting a return around Christmas. Sean Dyche may have a selection headache regarding his centre midfield pairing. David Jones who was stretchered-off in the Leeds game with a nasty gash to his ankle remains a doubt after missing the Forest game on Tuesday night. It was not helped either when Dean Marney also picked up an injury on Tuesday night. Marney was substituted before half time in Tuesday`s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup. Dyche though is hoping it is just a knock and not serious
“He had a knock next to his shinbone,” said the Clarets boss.
“We hope it`s something and nothing.”. David Edgar replaced Jones in the starting eleven on Tuesday night and Brian Stock came on for Marney. Stock impressed and looks certain to play if Marney remains sidelined.
Player to watch: Michael Duff
Duff has been a rock for the Clarets in the back-four over the years and he is now the only player remaining from the squad that gained promotion to the top flight in May 2009. If he plays on Saturday, it will be his 300th appearance for the club. That is some achievement for the 35 year old Northern Ireland international. His experience in the back-four is probably the main reason why he is keeping out Kevin Long at the moment and he certainly seems to have formed a good relationship and understanding with his centre back partner and captain, Jason Shackell. These two could be key in thwarting Charlton`s attempts to get some points on Saturday.
Charlton Athletic Team News:
It looks like Chris Powell has no injury or suspensions to worry about. Charlton signed winger Cameron Stewart earlier this month on loan from parent club, Hull City until January. He will be hoping for a start against his former club. Stewart played for the Clarets on loan between August 2012 and January 2013 making just nine appearances. It is thought Charlton could also select Joe Pigott in place of on loan Bolton striker, Marvin Sordell up front
Player to watch: Simon Church
Charlton signed Simon Church from Reading on a two-year deal in August following a successful trial. The Welsh international came through the youth ranks at Reading and scored 24 goals in 122 appearances for the Royals after making his debut in January 2009. He also had loan spells at Crewe, Yeovil, Wycombe and Leyton Orient whilst at the club and last season spent time on loan at Huddersfield. The 24 year old striker is currently the Addicks joint leading scorer with three goals so far this season, a tally he shares with 31 year old French striker, Yann Kermorgant.
Team & Tactics:
Dyche made four changes to the starting eleven on Tuesday night against Forest. One was forced with David Jones out injured and in came David Edgar. There still seems to be some doubt that Jones is fit enough to play so Edgar looks set to continue in that role against Charlton. Things sound more hopeful for Marney but if not Stock will be standing by to make his first start this season. It is possible also that Dyche could consider a centre midfield pairing of Stock and Marney, if the latter is fit enough to play. Stock looked impressive on Tuesday night and he might be rewarded with a starting eleven place come what may. Dyche also decided to rest Michael Duff on Tuesday night with Kevin Long making his first start since the Brighton game in the Amex back in August. I expect though Duff could return on Saturday to make his 300th career appearance for the Clarets. Kightly and Arfield also had to be content with a place on the bench against Forest after Dyche decided to give Treacy and Stanislas a run out on the flanks but again I suspect this was just a one-off for the moment. I will go then with the following line-up assuming Jones does not make it :
Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Mee, Kightly, Marney, Stock (or Edgar), Arfield, Ings, Vokes
Subs: Cisak, Lafferty, Long, Edgar (or Stock), Stanislas, Treacy, Noble
Ref Watch:
Nottinghamshire referee, David Coote is in charge of this one! In his six games so far this season nobody has been sent off and indeed he doesn`t seem to flash red cards that often. Last season only 4 players saw red from 32 games (1-in-8) although 96 did receive a yellow card (average 3/game). 17 have seen yellow so far this season (about 3/game again). His last match involving the Clarets was the six goal thriller at Vicarage Rd against Watford back in March last season. The spoils were shared 3-3 that day with the card count being four yellows!
Match Prediction:
If you were just predicting this on relative form, Burnley would be most pundits favourite to win and win convincingly. I have no reason to be worried on that basis but I just feel a bit edgy and hope the lads are not too over confident. We should still win this but it might be closer than expected. 2-1 Burnley!
Next Match:
The Clarets travel to the Keepmoat on the night of Tuesday 1st October to play Doncaster Rovers (Kick-Off 7:45pm) before returning to Turf Moor on the following Saturday 5th October to play Reading (Kick-Off 3pm)
