It seems like ages since Preston North End were last at the Turf but they will be on Tuesday night in the second round of the Capital One Cup.
The Pre-amble:
Although there is some comfort in seeing our Lancashire rivals, Preston North End plying their trade a league below us, many Clarets fans have missed the seasonal battles in the league between these two clubs. At least now the deadly rivalry can once again be fought on the battlefield with Preston the visitors to Turf Moor on Tuesday night in the second round of the Capital One Cup.
Burnley will need to be on their guard too with Preston being the underdogs and they will certainly need to avoid any banana skins. Simon Grayson ‘s men also despatched their most local rivals, Blackpool in the first round after beating them 1-0 at Deepdale and they will be looking for another local Championship scalp. Their performance in League One however so far this season has been pretty indifferent and they are currently mid-table in 12th spot with four points from four games remarkably having drawn all four!
The Clarets had a pretty routine night in York in their first round clash against the Minstermen coming away with a 4-0 victory and until last Saturday had been unbeaten this season in all competitions. We shall now have to see how the Clarets react to that 2-0 defeat against Brighton last Saturday in the Amex Stadium and hope they can show no ill effects and bounce back.
Burnley Team News:
Ross Wallace had surgery last Friday on his knee and is now expected to be sidelined for 3-4 months. With Duff making an appearance on the bench last Saturday after recovering from a hamstring problem, we do not appear to have any other injury concerns. Unless Burnley appeal though, our keeper, Tom Heaton will be suspended for the Preston game following his dubious red card for a second yellow against the Seagulls on Saturday. Alex Cisak will probably get his chance now to make his full debut.
Player to watch: Alex Cisak
Clarets fans have been extolling the virtues of Tom Heaton all season but now in the light of his one-match suspension we will get the chance to see his deputy, Alex Cisak in action over 90 minutes for the first time. Preston may well consider that area to now be our weakness, so hopefully Alex can prove them wrong.
Preston North End Team News:
Jack King will be out for at least two months due to a stress fracture in his foot. The 27-year-old suffered the injury in Preston`s s pre-season 1-1 draw with Rochdale at Spotland Stadium last month. King is very much a utility player and featured at right-back, centre-midfield and as a centre-forward in Preston`s pre-season games but has mainly been used as a striker.
Player to watch: Kevin Davies
The veteran 36 year old striker was linked with a move to Turf Moor in the summer but he finished up at Preston signing a two year deal last month after being released by Bolton. He has yet to score for his new club and Burnley will be hoping it stays that way.
Team & Tactics:
With the squad so small and bearing in mind the local rivalry, I can`t see Dyche tinkering with the eighteen to give his fringe players and development squad starlets a chance to shine. We can expect our strongest side to be put out. With Wallace out injured and Heaton suspended we could see a similar line-up to last Saturday with the only difference being Cisak starting in goal. That could mean Stanislas having to be content with a place on the bench again allowing Keith Treacy to play against his former club. Kevin Long though did have a poor game against the Seagulls and Dyche might be tempted to play Duff or even Mee in the centre of defence although that would be a little harsh on Long considering his generally good performances prior to Brighton.
I will go with the following line-up:
Cisak, Trippier, Long, Shackell, Lafferty, Treacy, Jones, Marney, Arfield, Ings, Vokes
Subs: Liversedge, Edgar, Mee, Duff, Stock, Stanislas, Noble
Ref Watch:
Wigan referee, Paul Tierney will be in charge of this pot-boiler of a derby. Tierney has refereed the Clarets just once previously and that was the controversial FA Cup tie against Barnsley last January when we went out of the competition after losing 1-0 at Oakwell. It was controversial though because the referee red-carded Brian Stock for a second bookable offence when in fact the first was a case of mistaken identity!! So far this season in his four games in charge there have been no sending-offs but 15 players have seen yellow. Last season in 35 games another three joined Stock on the sending-off list whilst 72 picked up a yellow card. That is actually quite a modest total compared to some referees.
Match Prediction:
We certainly do not need any cock-ups in the COCUP against our lower league Lancashire rivals. Hopefully the Clarets will not be too nervy after their first defeat of the season last Saturday away to Brighton and can bounce back and send the Nobbers packing! 3-1 Clarets
Next Match:
It`s a Derby of a different kind on Saturday with the Clarets travelling to Pride Park to play the Rams on the 31st August (Kick-Off: 3pm)
