It`s the third round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night with the Clarets facing a juicy test against Premier League opposition. Fulham, currently 10th in the top flight are the visitors.
Burnley will be hoping to emulate their rivals Blackburn Rovers who managed to defeat the Cottagers 1-0 in their league game on Saturday at Ewood Park and indeed will also be keen to keep their excellent record against Fulham at the Turf intact.
The Clarets have played Fulham 43 times at Turf Moor recording 31 wins, 7 draws and just 5 defeats. You have to go back to the 1981/82 season for the last time Fulham got anything from Turf Moor and that was only a draw 2-2.
We played Fulham the last time in the FA Cup in the 2002/3 Season. Stan Ternent`s men got a well earned 1-1 draw away to Fulham on the 16th February 2003 and followed this up ten days later with a thumping 3-0 victory against the Premiership side at Turf Moor.
There are three big questions ahead of this game as far as the Clarets are concerned:
1.Will Chris Eagles be selected in the starting eleven for this game? There is no question that the team have done better since Eagles was out of the team, suspended for three matches following his red-card against Plymouth at Turf Moor although Burnley are now on a run of six league games without defeat.
However the Clarets do seem to have a settled eleven and for that matter sixteen so will Eagles struggle to regain his place? Owen Coyle may well be tempted to select the ‘name` purely to give Fulham something to think about in view of Eagles Premier League experience with Manchester United. On the other hand would that be fair and who would we drop? Wade Elliott in particular seemed to struggle in the team with Eagles selected but now seems to be back of form. I suspect Coyle could be tempted to name Eagles on the bench and see how things go.
2.What formation will we play? Will we be more defence minded against Premier League opposition, maybe playing 4-5-1 or more likely 4-1-4-1 with Alexander keeping his holding role in front of the back four or will Coyle look to be more attack minded and play more 4-3-3 or 4-4-2? I suspect we could see many formations in the same game depending how play unfolds but I hope we take the game to Fulham and show some attacking flair.
3.Argueably Steven Jordan cost us the two points in our last game against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday after their last minute equaliser in injury time. Could Christian Kalvenes previously injured but now understood to have recovered reclaim his spot in the starting eleven or will Coyle keep his faith in Jordan?
Some headaches therefore for Coyle in terms of team selection but let`s hope he gets it right and we can cause an upset and progress to the fourth round. Come on you Clarets!
Predicted Team Sheet
The only injury doubt so far appears to be Ade Akinbiyi who missed the trip to Swansea with a back problem. I will go for the following bearing in mind also we are allowed seven substitutes in this competition:
Jensen, Jordan, Carlisle, Caldwell, Anderson, Alexander, Elliott, McCann, McDonald, Paterson, Thompson
Subs: Penny, Gudjonsson, Mahon, Eagles, Blake, Rodriguez or Akinbiyi (if fit), Kalvenes
Burnley Team News:
Chris Eagles will be available for selection after sitting out the third of his three match ban against Swansea on Saturday.
Christian Kalvenes could be preferred to Jordan and Ade Akinbiyi remains a doubt with back injury
Player to watch: Steven Thmpson
Steve Thompson has yet to get his first goal for the club and this could be his night
Fulham Team News:
One piece of new so far from Vital Fulham:
“After returning south with absolutely nothing in the way of points to our name, we learn today that one of our major players may miss the trip to Burnley in the Carling Cup.
Jimmy Bullard was the victim of two ‘awful` challenges from first Keith Andrews and then Brett Emerton at Ewood Park and the effervescent midfielder is now unlikely to feature at Turf Moor.
In the words of Roy Hodgson,
‘He is a bit sore.’
Could this be the scenario whereby Dickson Etuhu makes his Fulham debut?”
Player to watch: Andy Johnson
Fulham striker, Andy Johnson arrived from Everton last month for a reported £10.5 million. He signed a four year deal but has yet to score for the Cottagers. We will have to ensure that lack of goals continues.
Last Time We Met
We played Fulham the last time in the FA Cup in the 2002/3 Season. Stan Ternent`s men got a well earned 1-1 draw away to Fulham on the 16th February 2003 and followed this up ten days later with a thumping 3-0 victory against the Premiership side at Turf Moor.
Did I just repeat myself?
Aye, OK I did but we also beat them the time before that 2-1 at Turf Moor during their promotion year from the Championship back in Feb 2001.
Ref Watch:
MJ James (Cheshire)
Match Prediction:
2-1 Clarets!!
Next Match
It`s the big derby match on Saturday 27th September with Preston North End the visitors to Turf Moor.
