Burnley face Leeds United at Turf Moor on Tuesday night hoping to continue their impressive form under new manager Sean Dyche following Saturday`s 2-0 home win against Wolves.
The Pre-amble:
The Clarets play their second home game in the space of four days when they entertain Leeds United at Turf Moor on Tuesday night. This will be Sean Dyche`s second game in charge following his appointment as our new manager last week. The gaffer will become even more hero-worshipped if he can engineer a win against Leeds in this War of the Roses battle. He made a great start on Saturday in his first game in charge. Not only did we beat Wolves but we managed to keep a clean sheet for only the third time this season. The defence currently the leakiest in the Championship looked much tighter on Saturday and Dyche will be hoping that continues against Leeds. We are now in with a great chance of making a push for promotion providing the defence remains solid. The goal scoring will take care of itself with Austin in such lethal form ably supported by the likes of Paterson, Ings and others. The victory on Saturday sees the Clarets in 13th spot with 20 points from 14 games just eight points behind league leaders, Cardiff City and crucially only three points from the play-offs positions. Who might the sixth placed club currently be? Well it`s none other than deadly rivals, Blackburn Rovers so what a time to try and pick up three points! Rovers face a tricky game away to promotion chasing Huddersfield tonight so if they lose that and Burnley win we will at least be on an equal number of points and could conceivably be above them on goal difference.
Leeds United under high-profile manager, Neil Warnock are having a bit of an indifferent season. They are just above us on goal difference in 12th spot but have only won one of their last six Championship games although have managed to also pick up four draws. They also impressively beat Premier League, Southampton 3-0 in a Capital One Cup fourth round tie recently so the Clarets will need to be on their guard. We have not had much luck against Leeds United these past few seasons and it is time that changed so come on you Clarets!
Burnley Team News:
Ross Wallace appeared to suffer a nasty-looking head injury in the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Wolves and he left the field on a stretcher after needing oxygen. A flailing arm caught him across his jaw line but it is now being reported that he is fit enough to play against Leeds after making a full recovery although it is possible he still might face a late fitness test.
Chris McCann missed the Wolves game after suffering a tight hamstring injury in the build-up to Saturday`s game and he too looks set to face a late fitness test. Another midfielder, Marvin Bartley has been sidelined with a groin problem for three games now but could be back in contention if he passes a late fitness test ahead of the Leeds clash.
Player to watch: David Edgar
Have we found a new midfield star? Edgar found himself deputising for Chris McCann against Wolves on Saturday and seemed to be enjoying his new role in midfield. He looked at ease putting in a convincing performance after being given a free role in the centre of the park. One minute he seemed to be playing the holding midfield role partnering Brian Stock and the next looking more attack minded charging forward and setting up counter-attacks. If McCann fails a late fitness test, Edgar might get another chance to shine in this unfamiliar role. He might in any case after putting in such a good performance on Saturday.
Leeds United Team News:
Leeds defender Tom Lees is a major doubt for the game. He was accidentally poked in the eye in last Friday night’s draw at Brighton and had to be treated locally after suffering from temporary blindness. He now faces a scan ahead of the match. Should the 21 year old not make it, Lee Peltier is expected to partner Jason Pearce in the centre of defence.
Peltier though has also been carrying an ankle injury and the captain looks set to be assessed ahead of the game with Danny Pugh on standby. Striker Luciano Becchio is also pushing for a recall after starting the last two matches on the bench. Midfielder, Michael Tonge has also been playing recently despite nursing a problematic shoulder injury and once again he might face a late fitness test.
Defender, Leigh Bromby (ruptured tendon in right knee) strikers, Ross McCormack (twisted ankle) and Davide Somma (cruciate knee ligament plus midfielder, Ramon Nunez (also cruciate knee ligament) all remain sidelined with long-term injuries.
Player to watch: Luciano Becchio
Becchio has been rested the past two games but has still come on from the bench to score in both matches. He is Leeds top scorer, second only to Charlie Austin in the Championship with 11 goals so far this season in all competitions. He scored a penalty against Southampton in the Capital One Cup just a few moments after coming on from the bench and then hit home the equaliser at Brighton in Friday`s 2-2 draw. The 28 year old Argentinean penned a three-year contract after joining Leeds in July 2008 from financially-strapped Segunda División B Spanish club Mérida UD. He has since scored at a rate of about one goal in every 2-3 games. Warnock rested Becchio for the last two games after feeling the team needed a change but he now looks set to make a return to the starting eleven against the Clarets so we better watch out!!
Team & Tactics:
With Wallace sounding like a possible contender despite being stretchered-off as a precaution on Saturday, new manager, Sean Dyche could be in a position to name an unchanged team. There is an argument that says why change a successful winning team too although Chris McCann may have something to say about that if he passes a late fitness test. Would it be fair to drop David Edgar? He looked sharp and influential in his new found midfield role against Wolves and indeed the whole team gelled in all departments. The team played a s a unit and it was particularly pleasing to see the improvements in the back four so why change things? I would go with the same starting eleven assuming Wallace is fit and name McCann on the bench if he has fully recovered from his hamstring problem. That means we will be playing with one up front again, namely Charlie Austin and although he looks better in my opinion with a partner, he still manages to score more often than not so it`s worth the gamble at the moment if it means we look more solid at the back with holding midfielders involved. If we do line up the same and if once more Edgar is given the roaming midfield role our formation could be flexible during the game interchanging between 4-1-4-1 and 4-2-3-1. So here is my predicted and preferred eighteen :
Grant, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Wallace, Stock, Marney, Edgar, Paterson, Austin
Subs: Jensen, Lafferty (or Mills), McCann, Stewart, Stanislas, Ings, Vokes
Ref Watch:
Sunderland referee, Geoff Eltringham takes charge of this War of the Roses clash. Burnley fans will be hoping that our 3-1 defeat at home to Leicester City one year ago when this referee was last in charge of a Burnley game will not be a bad omen! At least no cards were shown at all that day and indeed this referee is quite modest in his card showing. Last season in 39 games, he only sent off 5 players (almost i-in-8 ) and handed out 95 yellows. This season in his eleven games so far, 27 yellows have been flashed with two players being sent to the dressing room.
Match Prediction:
Leeds have managed to get a double over the Clarets for the past two seasons following their promotion from League One and have had the habit of coming from behind and scoring late on to take all three points. It is time therefore Burnley had some fortune playing Leeds. Sean Dyche is the man to lead them to victory. 3-1 Burnley!
Next Match:
Burnley travel to deepest Suffolk to face current bottom club, Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday 10th November (Kick-Off: 3pm)
