Hull v Burnley Preview

This is arguably one of the biggest games of the evening, as these two playoff chasers are pitted together at the KC Stadium. Both started the season very slowly, yet both are now in full flow and within touching distance of the top six. However, considering the amount of teams already up there, you would have to think that just one of these two sides will make it.

Hull’s season has certainly been an inconsistent one although in recent months Nigel Pearson has managed to get his side on song and following a struggle in the bottom half of the table, the Tigers are now starting to mount a serious top six push. With five points separating them from 6th place, it’s going to take some strong form but that is certainly something that the club have behind them at the moment. The KC Stadium outfit have managed four wins from their last six and having beaten fellow playoff contenders Nottingham Forest in their last game, Pearson’s men will definitely be full of confidence. What’s more, through the January transfer window Pearson brought in plenty of reinforcements and as time goes on, you can only imagine those players settling into the club even more.

Burnley approach this fixture in a similar vein of form, with the Clarets also winning four of their last six. This improvement has undoubtedly been due to the influence of Eddie Howe, who has continued to enhance his reputation as one of the most promising young managers since his move from Bournemouth earlier this year. The Turf Moor side are unquestionably in a better situation than their opponents as well, with the club just four points away from 6th place but also having two games in hand over every side around them. That puts them in an extremely favorable position and as the season starts to draw to a close, many pundits believe that this Burnley side will end up finishing in the top six.

As for team news, Hull just have the one problem as Nigel Pearson sweats on the fitness of Vito Mannone. The Italian is struggling with a thigh problem and is highly unlikely to feature in this encounter. Burnley meanwhile have been hit with a huge blow following the news that Charlie Austin is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Elsewhere, Eddie Howe has other problems in the forwards department as Steven Thomson and Martin Paterson prepare to miss out through groin and thigh problems respectively.

Both of these sides have identical form over the last few weeks, yet we think Burnley could take all the points here. The Clarets have shown remarkable improvement under Eddie Howe and having impressed on the road as well, we’ll predict a narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors in this one.

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Portsmouth v Burnley Preview

This game features two sides who were plying their trade in the Premiership last season; although ambitions of a swift return appear to be slim at best. While they have overcome their miserable start to the campaign, Portsmouth are still languishing in the lower regions of the table while opponents Burnley occupy a mid-table place position.

Many bookmakers stopped taking bets on Portsmouth being relegated just before the season began, with many believing that their severe financial problems would get in the way of any sort of form on the pitch. On that basis, their supporters should be delighted with the season so far, with the Fratton Park outfit currently sat in 18th position

Scunthorpe v Burnley Preview

Posted on January 22nd, 2011 in English Championship

This is a game featuring two clubs who really should be competing at opposite ends of the table, with Scunthorpe low on finances while Burnley are still reaping the rewards of a season in the top flight. However, while the Iron are battling right down at the bottom, Burnley have underachieved and their supporters will want a huge improvement on their position of 10th for the remainder of the season.

Scunthorpe’s campaign has been exactly as many bookmakers predicted

Burnley v Reading Preview

These are two sides who were tipped to fare well in this campaign and as it stands both have had reasonable seasons. Their recent relegation from the Premiership almost automatically made Burnley one of the favourites for promotion, while Reading were at one point favourites for the title having freshened up their squad during the summer. As it stands Burnley are living up to expectations and sit in 4th spot, while Reading are probably underachieving a little and are down in 11th.

Burnley supporters may not have felt Brian Laws possessed all the qualities to be the right man to lead them this season, but one thing they knew he had was a vast experience of this division. Through the summer Laws recruited shrewdly and the rewards now appear to be paying off, with the club sat in 4th position after the opening twelve games of the season. Their last defeat came mid-September and while they have drawn a lot of games, their league position speaks for itself. Goals do not appear to be a problem and six goals in their last two games has made the Clarets one of the most dangerous sides in the division in front of goal. They will also be heading into this game with plenty of confidence having strolled past Barnsley in their last game with a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Reading on the other hand are a few places lower in 11th although their supporters will still be quite happy with the progress they’ve made last season. It was only last year that the Royals were rooted in the bottom three at this point in the campaign and since taking over, manager Brian McDermott has changed the club’s fortunes around. However, their season so far can be described as nothing but inconsistent and that’s probably the reason why they’re only sat in mid-table. They come into this fixture on the back of two defeats and while they have been narrow, McDermott will know that his side must start picking up points if they are to meet expectations and challenge in the top six.

Burnley will again be without the services of Clarke Carlisle for this one as the former Leeds defender completes a three match suspension. However, Brian Laws will be able to select Danny Fox, who didn’t feature in their last game due to a thigh injury. There’s just the one update for the visitors as Reading will be hoping for good news on Jay Tabb. The former Brentford man hasn’t featured since August but is nearing closer to return following a foot problem.

As for a prediction, we’ll have to tip Burnley in this one. The Clarets have hit some good form recently and with Reading losing their last two, we think they’re there for the taking. Our prediction

Burnley v Barnsley Preview

Posted on October 19th, 2010 in English Championship

It’s not uncommon for some media outlets to get these two clubs confused due to the similarity of their names and traditions. However, six places separate them in the league now although if Barnsley can net a victory, they’ll go above the Clarets so much is the tightness of the division.

In our summer previews, we thought that Burnley should be right up there challenging with the best considering some of the talent they had on paper. Doubts have been cast over the credentials of Brian Laws, but in fairness the former Sheffield Wednesday manager constructed a very good squad over the summer and one that definitely seemed to be up there with the best. With that, a league position of 8th doesn’t seem so great, although with just three points separating them from 3rd spot, they’re by no means struggling. They’ve put together some good form over the last few weeks as well and having not lost in their last six, they’re definitely one of the form teams of the division.

Barnsley are definitely one of the most inconsistent teams in the division. Throughout the season, the Tykes have been used to picking up fantastic results only then to go on a slump of a few games. They ended a miserable four game winless streak by comfortably beating Nottingham Forest on Saturday and that result means they are now sat in 14th spot on fifteen points from the opening eleven matches. Considering their relegation struggles over the past few years that is certainly a position that they should be looking to keep although Mark Robins knows that he needs to tighten up the consistency if they are to achieve that. What’s more, it’s clear there is a worrying reliance on home form, with the Tykes one of only a handful of sides not to net an away victory this term.

In terms of team news, Burnley are sweating on the fitness of defensive duo Danny Fox and Michael Duff who are struggling with thigh and calf problems respectively. One defender who certainly won’t be featuring is Clarke Carlisle though, with the former Leeds man sitting this one out through suspension. It’s very quiet on the team news front for the visitors who again just have the one concern in striker Jeronimo Neumann. Following an impressive substitute appearance on Saturday, Mark Robins must decide whether or not to hand Jacob Butterfield a starting place.

While Barnsley recorded a very good result in their last outing, there is only one team that’s going to win this for us. With Burnley yet to lose at home and the Tykes still without a victory on the road, the only way we see this going is a win for Brian Laws’ men

Middlesbrough v Burnley Preview

This Tuesday evening is just full of huge games and this fixture definitely falls into that category. Both Middlesbrough and Burnley were tipped as serious promotion contenders but as it stands, only one is getting close to matching those expectations. Considering the money they have spent, Boro have endured a horrific start to the campaign and languish in 20th position while Burnley are performing considerably better and sit in 5th spot.

In our preview featuring Boro last week we said how their supporters are becoming increasingly frustrated with Gordon Strachan’s management and that’s something that certainly won’t have changed since Saturday. The Riverside outfit were soundly beaten 3-0 by QPR, leaving them in 20th position with just four points to their name. They have a goal difference of -6 which considering the amount of attacking players they’ve brought in, is just dumbfounding. Then again, a lack of investment in the defence is looking disastrous with the club already shipping eight goals this term. With that said, chairman Steve Gibson is renowned as being a patient man and while Strachan has been at the helm for a long time now, Gibson knows that it will take time for his new team to gel. However, with most of his recruits being brought in from Scotland, supporters are wondering if the new players are actually good enough to succeed in this league.

Burnley on the other hand are living up to their expectations. While the Clarets are recently relegated, there were doubts over whether or not Brian Laws had what it takes to mastermind promotion. As it stands things are going to plan and supporters will be very happy with their return of ten points, which leaves them just three away from the league leaders. They have won two out of their last three games and after coming back from 3-1 down in a stunning Lancashire derby in their last game, there’s no doubting the spirit that’s at the club.

As for team news, there is nothing to report for Middlesbrough although Gordon Strachan is expected to ring the changes following the calamity on Saturday. The visitors are sweating on the fitness of Chris Iwelumo who is doubtful with a hamstring problem, but have Saturday’s last-minute hero Jay Rodriguez waiting in the wings should Iwelumo not pull through. Elsewhere, Brian Laws has the option of selecting Tyrone Mears who is back in contention following suspension.

Burnley’s home record has been the main reason for their position, with the Clarets yet to register an away victory. We may have been fairly negative towards Middlesbrough, but with their home advantage and reality of their situation setting in, we think they could pull out a victory. A tight 1-0 win for the home side.

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