The Clarets play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Saturday hoping to get their first win of the season on the board.
The Pre-amble:
Burnley are hopefully refreshed after their international break and can now plough on and get their first win of the season on the board against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this Saturday. The Clarets are currently propping up the Premier League table in bottom place with no win and just one point from three games. They have had a tough schedule though having had to play both Chelsea and Manchester United at home as well as a tricky game down in Swansea. The signs have been encouraging though and Burnley will be buoyed by their well-earned point in a 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Turf Moor in their last game before the international break.
The Clarets have a relatively easy schedule now over the next few weeks and indeed their next six games are all against clubs currently in the bottom ten! It is therefore vital to pick up points against such opposition starting with Crystal Palace away this Saturday. Palace have struggled too this season and are another club looking for their first league win. In fact they are sharing bottom place with the Clarets on just one point with the same goal difference. The Eagles though will have been buoyed by the arrival of their new gaffer and former boss, Neil Warnock and just before the break under his guidance they enjoyed a well-earned point in a 3-3 draw away to Newcastle. The scene is set for a crucial game for both clubs and Burnley fans will be hoping their team can spoil the Eagles party.
Crystal Palace Team News:
New manager Neil Warnock has a couple of summer signings he could unveil at Selhurst Park this Saturday. Zeki Fryers should get his first start at left-back for Palace after signing from Tottenham on transfer deadline day. Former Eagles fans favourite, Wilfried Zaha is also back with the club. Crystal Palace re-signed the winger from Manchester United on a season-long loan at the end of last month. Zaha marked his return to the club with a stoppage-time equaliser at St James’ Park.
Palace also broke their transfer record by forking out £7m to make Wigan midfielder and Burnley target James McArthur one of three deadline-day signings but he might have to be content with a place on the bench (see below). Joe Ledley and Marouane Chamakh also look set to miss out with Dwight Gayle probably leading the attack.
Wolves striker, Kevin Doyle has also arrived on loan until January but it remains to be seen if he will be in contention.
Player to watch: James McArthur
Palace managed to find the £7 million or so to bring Wigan`s James McArthur to Selhusrt Park after strong links had been made regarding Burnley`s interest in the midfielder. It would appear four bids by the Clarets were rejected although the highest only appears to have been about £4 million. Burnley fans can now see what all the fuss was about if he manages to play against us. McArthur though may have to be content with a place on the bench with the midfield partnership of Mile Jedinak and Joel Ward paying dividends at the moment.
Burnley Team News:
Sam Vokes is currently our only player in the squad to be sidelined. He continues his recovery from anterior cruciate ligament damage. Some team news reported in the media suggests striker Danny Ings could also be a doubt although it is thought he should be fit enough to feature
Michael Keane, Nathaniel Chalobah and George Boyd all signed on transfer deadline day could be in line to make their debuts.
Player to watch: George Boyd
Hopefully Clarets fans will get their first look at new signing, George Boyd who arrived from Hull City on transfer deadline day. The winger and attacking midfielder could be just the boost the team needs to get our first season win on the board
Team & Tactics:
The big question appears to be how many of our new signings on transfer deadline day will go straight into the starting eleven. Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Keane our two latest loans were both on international duty for the England Under 21s during the international break and Sean Dyche might be tempted to rest them or have them available on the bench. Our third signing, George Boyd though might get his first start for the Clarets and make his debut although it is unclear who he might replace.
With so many options, it is difficult to predict a starting eleven but I would suggest the following line-up could give the Eagles some problems:
Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Boyd, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Ings, Jutkiewicz
Subs: Gilks, Keane, Taylor, Kightly, Chalobah (or Wallace), Barnes, Sordell
It would be a little harsh to tamper too much with the starting eleven considering we did so well against Manchester United at home in our last game holding them to a 0-0 draw and at times playing some attractive football.
Ref Watch:
Wirral referee, Mike Dean is in charge of this clash. Burnley fans will have fond memories of the last time he was in charge of a game involving the Clarets. It was the day we beat local rivals, Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Ewood Park last season. Dean has only been in charge of three games so far this season but has already handed out 14 yellow cards and sent a player off! Last season seven players saw red and another 131 yellow (including three in the Rovers v Clarets derby) in Dean`s 38 games in total.
Match Prediction:
If we are to survive in the top flight this season, this is exactly the sort of game where we need to pick up points and preferably three. It would be nice to get our first win of the season on the board and boost confidence ahead of a relatively easy run of games over the next few weeks. Let`s do this! 2-1 Clarets!
Next Match:
Burnley return to Turf Moor for their next game and entertain Sunderland at home on Saturday 20th September (Kick-Off: 3pm)
