Burnley are still struggling in the top flight and have yet to win a game. Let`s hope that first win on the board comes against Hull City at Turf Moor this Saturday
The Pre-amble:
The Clarets have managed to pick up just four points in the Premier League so far after 10 games and are still looking for their first win of the season. They are stuck at the bottom of the table and remain three points adrift of second-from-bottom QPR needing five points to escape the drop zone. These are worrying times for the club and it remains vital to start stringing a few wins together before the task of avoiding relegation becomes more of an Everest to climb. The fixtures over the next few weeks look less arduous with four home games out of the next six starting with Hull City at Turf Moor this Saturday. The two away games at Stoke City and QPR also look winnable but first we have to boost our confidence by beating the Tigers on home soil.
The Tigers have eleven points from ten games and the good news for Clarets fans is that Steve Bruce`s men have won just one of their last 10 Premier League away matches losing five and drawing four. This season though they have only lost once on the road to Aston Villa so we need to treat the statistics with caution. We stand a good chance though against the Tigers considering too that their first and second-choice goalkeepers look set to remain sidelined. They could be on a downer too after losing 1-0 at home to Southampton last Saturday and Burnley will be keen to break their duck and inflict back-to-back defeats on the Tigers!
Burnley Team News:
Sam Vokes and Matthew Taylor are recovering from respective knee and Achilles problems but they appear to be Sean Dyche`s only injury concerns. Utility player Steven Reid has returned to training following a groin problem and could be back in contention.
Player to watch: George Boyd
Boyd signed from Hull City in the summer transfer window and this will be the first chance he has had to play against his former club. He should certainly be up for this one and is no doubt giving his manager and team mates the lowdown on the opposition.
Hull City Team News:
Goalkeepers Allan McGregor and Steve Harper are both back in training but look unlikely to feature, so third-choice keeper, Eldin Jakupovic looks set to continue in goal. Defenders, Michael Dawson (ankle) and Alex Bruce (hamstring), striker, Nikica Jelavic (knee) and midfielder, Robert Snodgrass (knee) also remain sidelined. Tigers` midfielder Gaston Ramirez though returns after being ineligible to face parent club Southampton last weekend.
Player to watch: Mohamed Diamé
27 year old Senegal international midfielder, Mohamed Diamé is Hull`s joint leading goal scorer this season with four goals. He joined from West Ham on the 1st September 2014 after accepting a three-year contract.
Team & Tactics:
Sean Dyche may well be tempted to show faith in the same team that managed to hold Arsenal for 70 minutes at the Emirates last Saturday before disappointingly conceding three goals in the last twenty minutes. If the same eighteen are selected, we will line up as follows:
Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Ward, Arfield, Marney, Jones, Boyd, Ings, Sordell
Subs: Gilks, Keane, Mee, Kightly, Wallace, Chalobah, Jutkiewicz
The striker conundrum continues with only Ings so far getting on the score sheet. Marvin Sordell probably played his best game of the season for the Clarets against the Gunners last Saturday but once again our strikers drew a blank. Dyche could be tempted to name Jutkiewicz in the starting eleven in place of Sordell but until one of them scores it is difficult to see who will gain a regular starting spot partnering Danny Ings. Jutkiewicz has had the most chances but he is still looking for his first goal whilst Sordell has only made two starts so far this season and overall has looked the least effective. On the other hand, Ashley Barnes missed out completely last Saturday and he could be set for a recall but he too has failed to get on the score sheet this season.
Ref Watch:
County Durham referee Mark Clattenburg will be in charge of this clash. The last time he refereed a game at Turf Moor was in the first game of the 2013/14 campaign, when the Clarets drew 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers. Just the one player was booked that day, Bolton`s Lee Chung-Yong. However his last game involving the Clarets was our 1-0 Boxing Day defeat at Middlesbrough last season when three yellow cards were handed out. In his 12 games so far this season including international matches he has sent two players off and flashed a yellow card 48 times.
Match Prediction:
How many times have I put the Clarets down for a win this season? If we don`t win this one we are in serious trouble. Burnley 3-1 Hull!
Next Match:
There is now yet another international break with the Clarets next in action against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday 22nd November (Kick-Off:3pm)
