Burnley take on local rivals Blackpool in a derby game at Bloomfield Road on Saturday hoping to keep away from the drop-zone and move up into the top ten.
The Pre-amble:
The relief on Saturday following our 3-1 win at home against bottom-dwellers Bristol City was plain for all to see! It certainly relieved pressure with the club at the time just four points away from the drop zone despite being in 13th spot. The victory saw the Clarets move up to 11th and we now have some clear blue water in the shape of seven points between ourselves and the third from bottom club, Blackburn Rovers (ha ha!). Rovers though do still have a game in hand and mathematically we are certainly not safe yet with fifteen points still to fight over. Mid-table looks the most likely finish though although even the play-offs is still not totally out of our reach with the six placed club, Brighton only eight points clear of the Clarets. I say ‘ONLY` somewhat tongue-in-cheek though!
Next up is a trip to the seaside to face local rivals, Blackpool at Bloomfield Road this Saturday. Blackpool have not had a particularly good season and they currently languish in 18th spot four points away from the drop-zone but just three points behind the Clarets with both clubs having played the same number of games. Paul Ince`s men will be keen to ease their own relegation fears and the scene looks set for an interesting local derby. Despite their relatively low position, their form of late has not been too bad with just one defeat in their last eight games. That was at home to struggling Peterborough though going down 1-0. In the other seven games they have drawn five and won just two.
Blackpool Team News:
35 year old midfielder, Barry Ferguson is available again following a one match suspension against Forest after he picked up a red card for a second bookable offence in the previous game at home to Palace. Midfielder, Isaiah Osbourne though starts a three-match suspension after the 25 year old failed in his appeal to overturn a straight red card he received in the second-half against Forest. Back in early March, striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher picked up a bad hamstring injury with reports that he could be out for 6-8 weeks. The 31 year old looks unlikely to feature against the Clarets.
Player to watch: Tom Ince
Blackpool winger Thomas Ince, son of gaffer Paul is impressing this season. He is Blackpool`s leading goal scorer having netted 18 so far in all competitions.
Ince signed a two-year contract with Blackpool, with an option for a third, after a compensation deal was agreed between his new club and former club, Liverpool in August 2011. Liverpool too look like they may have regretted that decision considering the 21-year-old was a January target by the club along with Reading.
Burnley Team News:
Ben Mee looks to be back in contention and could start in the left back spot after recovering from a twisted knee that saw him substituted in the recent Forest game. Lafferty and Mills could be vying for a place on the bench as substitute left back. The game comes too early though for Michael Duff with the manager saying he will likely need more time to recover from his calf injury.
Player to watch: Charlie Austin
Austin has just five games remaining including the Blackpool match to notch up the two goals he needs to reach the 30 goal target for the season. Can he emulate Willie Irvine who was the last Burnley player to achieve that target way back in 1965-66? Let`s hope so starting with at least one goal against the Tangerines on Saturday.
Team & Tactics:
We could start the same team and indeed name the same eighteen as the Bristol City game. I suspect though if Mee is fit he will be the automatic choice at left back so I suggest once again we will play 4-4-2 with the only change being at left back:
Grant, Trippier, Shackell, Long, Mee Wallace, Marney, McCann, Stanislas, Austin, Vokes
Subs: Jensen, Lafferty(or Mills), Edgar, Kacaniklic, Bartley, Ings, Paterson
Ref Watch:
Dean Whitestone is in charge of this local clash. The Northamptonshire referee has been involved in 34 games this season sending off just three players and showing yellow to 107. His only game involving the Clarets this season was our 2-1 away defeat at Leicester back in September last year.
Match Prediction:
I don`t know why but I have a good feeling about this match! Think Burnley are going to shade it 1-0
Next Match:
After Blackpool just four matches of the season remain starting with a clash against Leeds United at Elland Road on the night of Tuesday 16th April (Kick-Off:-7:45pm). We then return to Turf Moor for a tricky game against Championship leaders, Cardiff City on Saturday 20th April. Don`t forget that one is an early kick-off at 12:45pm thanks to Sky Sports wanting to cover the game live! The last two games are Wolves away and then Ipswich at home. More details of those in due course.
