The Clarets travel to Elland Road on Tuesday night an unnerving five points off the drop-zone. Coming away with any sort of result against Leeds would go a long way to easing such relegation fears.
The Pre-amble:
Burnley having lost 1-0 away to Blackpool on Saturday are now only five points ahead of third from bottom club, Barnsley with just four games of the season left to play. They have a tricky home game against league leaders, Cardiff coming up on Saturday but first they have a chance to ease the lingering relegation fears against Leeds United at Elland Road on Tuesday night. A point would be enough probably to ease those fears but a victory would be even better against the Yorkshire rivals. The Clarets are currently in 14th spot on 54 points and are now looking over their shoulder rather than a play-offs finish. We can virtually rule the latter out since the sixth placed club, Bolton are already nine points clear of Burnley although everything still remains mathematically possible including the drop! Leeds sacked their manager, Neil Warnock on April Fool`s Day following an Easter Monday 2-1 home defeat by Derby which left the club only five points clear of the drop zone. They have since appointed new manager, former Reading gaffer, Brian McDermott and are now currently in 11th spot on 55 points, just one point more than the Clarets. A 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday at home on Saturday was their only win in the last eight games having lost four and drawn the other three. The scene is set for a close game between two clubs who seem to have suffered similar average form all season.
Leeds United Team News:
Well we are taking the easy way out this time by using a team news update from Vital Leeds. They write :
`Leeds United boss Brian McDermott will be boosted by the return of defender Tom Lees for the game with Burnley on Tuesday night.. Lees has missed the last three games through suspension following his sending off at Ipswich Town. McDermott could also be boosted by the return of fellow centre back Lee Peltier. The club captain failed a late fitness test on Saturday but he is hoping to have shaken off the ankle injury he picked up at Charlton Athletic in time for Tuesday. The new Leeds boss may also decide to play Luke Varney up front after he scored twice after moving forward on Saturday. El Hadji Diouf could be pushing for a start after he impressed as a second half substitute on Saturday. Steve Morison is the likely candidate to drop out of the starting eleven. Stephen Warnock filled in for Lees and Peltier in the centre of defence on Saturday but he could be struggling after picking up a knock on his ankle. Michael Brown will serve the final game of his two-match suspension. Leigh Bromby remains the only long-term absentee.`
Player to watch: Luke Varney
30 year old striker-cum-winger, Luke Varney joined Leeds from Portsmouth in July 2012 on a two year deal. He could be on a high after scoring a brace in Leeds first win in eight games following their 2-1 home victory over the Owls.
Burnley Team News:
Michael Duff now appears to be the only player on the injured list and it remains to be seen if he can recover in time from his troublesome calf injury. Alex Kacaniklic and Joseph Mills were both suffering from a stomach bug last Saturday. Both are thought to have recovered and could be in contention.
Player to watch: Sam Vokes
Vokes at long last now seems to be a regular starter supporting Charlie Austin up front. It would be nice if he could now bag more goals and help ease those relegation fears which so far refuse to totally go away.
Team & Tactics:
There is no reason why Dyche couldn`t name the same eighteen as the Blackpool game and continue to play 4-4-2 with Austin and Vokes upfront. Let`s go with the same then namely :
Grant, Trippier, Shackell, Long, Mee, Wallace, Marney, McCann, Stanislas, Austin, Vokes
Subs: Jensen, Lafferty (or Mills), Edgar, Kacaniklic (or Treacy), Bartley, Ings, Paterson
Ref Watch:
Essex referee, Fred Graham is in charge of this War of the Roses clash. He seems loathe sending players off with just one so far this season having seen red in 32 games. Another 101 have been yellow carded! The last time he was in charge of a game involving the Clarets was in the 2011-12 season when we defeated West Ham 2-1 at Upton Park back in December 2011. Three yellow cards were shown that day.
Match Prediction:
We don`t tend to draw much against Leeds so let`s go for 1-1. An away point would probably be enough to ease our lingering relegation fears and it would be a good one for us.
Next Match:
It is a tough game for the Clarets on Saturday despite being at home with Championship leaders, Cardiff City the visitors. Don`t forget this clash on Saturday 20th April is a live Sky Sports televised game and kicks-off early at 12:45pm. Cardiff at the time of writing this match preview are just one point away from assured promotion and the pressure could be off Burnley if they manage to get that point in their Tuesday night fixture against Charlton at home
