Burnley take on Manchester United at Turf Moor this Saturday. United surprisingly as well as Burnley are still looking for their first win of the season so this will be an intriguing clash!
The Pre-amble:
Burnley are still looking for their first win of the season after three games. It was disappointing to lose our opening two top flight league games to Chelsea at home and then Swansea away the following week but at least the performances were encouraging. Perhaps not so though the game against lower league opposition on Tuesday night when Championship side, Sheffield Wednesday knocked Premier League, Burnley out of the Capital One Cup following their 1-0 win at Turf Moor. It is vitally important that we get our first win on the board soon to bolster confidence and give Clarets fans some hope. They don`t get any easier though with Manchester United in town this Saturday in a BT Sport live televised game which kicks-off early at 12:45pm.
Clarets fans of course will be hoping for a repeat of the last time we were in the Premier League back in 2009-10 and played United at home also early in the season. That night at Turf Moor, a memorable Robbie Blake goal ensured a 1-0 victory for the Clarets and gave all fans some hope we could survive in the top flight. It wasn`t to be in the end but who knows what will happen this time round. Manchester United are not the force they once were since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson and current gaffer, Louis van Gaal is under some pressure with his side also surprisingly still looking for their first win of the season with only point to show for their efforts after two Premier League games. A 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea in the season opener was followed by an unremarkable and uninspiring 1-1 draw away to Sunderland! Things got far worse for the Red Devils in midweek though when they were unceremoniously dumped out of the Capital One Cup by League One club, MK Dons following an embarrassing 4-0 defeat in the Stadium mk.
The scene is set therefore for a pretty intriguing battle and the nerves could be jangling more for the visitors than the hosts in light of the expectations. A win would actually take us above United after three league games, early days but what a boost that would be!
Burnley Team News:
Dean Marney picked up a knock and was rested on Tuesday night against the Owls and David Jones was substituted in the second-half after also suffering a minor knock. Clarets fans will be hoping both central midfielders will be fit for the United clash with options somewhat limited in that department. Sam Vokes is our only other player out injured and of course he is on the long-road to recovery following surgery to fix an anterior cruciate ligament injury towards the end of last season.
Player to watch: Danny Ings
So much praise and success last season for Danny Ings but so far this season in the top flight he has struggled to make an impression. It is vitally important that Ings gets on the score sheet as soon as possible to boost his confidence so let`s hope he can open his account against United this Saturday.
Manchester United Team News:
The big talk this week on the United front has been their new signing, Angel Di Maria. The 26 year old winger and attacking midfielder only completed his £59.7million transfer from Real Madrid on Tuesday but he now looks set to make his Manchester United debut against the Clarets on Saturday.
Another new recruit though, Marcos Rojo is still awaiting clearance on a work permit so may have to wait until after the international break to make his debut. The 24 year old Argentina international defender joined United from Sporting Lisbon earlier this month with Nani going in the opposite direction on a season-long loan as part of a deal. He accepted a five-year contract in a deal worth ?20 million (£16 million).
Player to watch: Angel Di Maria
Di Maria has impressed Louis van Gaal in training this week and appears to have shaken off any doubts about his fitness. The Argentinian international started off his career with Rosario Central before moving to Europe in 2007 to play for Benfica. Three years later and Real Madrid were knocking at his door. In June 2010, he signed a five-year contract for the Spanish club for a mere ?25 million, plus ?11 million in incentives. In August 2014, Di María signed a five-year deal with Manchester United for a transfer fee of £59.7 million, the fifth most expensive transfer of all time and the highest fee ever paid by a British club! Meanwhile ‘ickle old Burnley couldn`t find £7 million to sign their midfield target, Wigan`s James McArthur and it now looks like Palace and Leicester are in a battle to sign him. Sigh!
Team & Tactics:
There were reports that Dyche was hoping to bring in a new signing before the United game but at the time of writing no such deal has materialised. Assuming that both Marney and Jones have recovered from their knocks, I fully expect Sean Dyche to revert back to a more familiar line-up after making seven changes to the starting eleven for the Capital One clash against the Owls on Tuesday night. Our strongest team at the moment appears to be the following:
Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Taylor, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Ings, Jutkiewicz
Subs: Gilks, Ward, Reid, Kightly, Wallace, Barnes, Sordell
There is a possibility though that Ward could be preferred ahead of Mee. Mee has struggled in the opening two league games and Ward made a reasonable debut albeit against Championship opposition on Tuesday night. If one of our recognised central midfielders is still out injured and no new signings have arrived, it is quite possible Scott Arfield might once again play a more central midfield role giving Dyche a number of options on the flanks with Kightly and Wallace both looking for a starting eleven spot. Matty Taylor though will be hoping he too features against United from the start on Saturday.
Ref Watch:
Chris Foy has been selected to referee Burnley`s home game against Manchester United on Saturday. The Merseyside referee has only been in charge of one game so far this season but has already sent two players off and shown another two yellow cards! That too was a local derby in this case between London clubs, West Ham and Spurs at Upton Park which finished 1-0 to the visitors. Last season in 32 games, just six players got their marching orders and another 89 saw yellow. Foy last took charge of a game involving the Clarets in their 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers two seasons ago. That match in February 2013 ended up with three players seeing yellow.
Match Prediction:
Last time we played United in the top flight at Turf Moor Manchester United were the reigning champions and we still beat them 1-0. How times have changed!
There is no reason though why we couldn`t beat United again based on their current form and if we score first the pressure could really be on the visitors! There is always this feeling though that United could be about to find a win at the expense of the Clarets so we will certainly need to be on our guard and play to our strengths. A draw is probably more realistic so 1-1 hoping we can shade it like last time!
Next Match:
An international break is coming up now and we will next be in action on Saturday 13th September when we travel to South London to play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (Kick-Off: 3pm)
