Premier League Preview: Burnley – Stoke City
Kick-off: Wednesday, March 10, 19:45 GMT
Turf Moor, Burnley
Burnley manager Brian Laws has not had a good start to life at Turf Moor since taking over from Owen Coyle in January, and will be looking to steer his side out of the relegation zone as the Clarets host Stoke City in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The Clarets began life well in the Premier League well and were even being tipped for a top half finish in the early stages of the season, but a combination of a drop in form and a change of manager means the top flight newcomers are now fighting to retain their place in the top flight.
Former manager Owen Coyle went from hero to zero after leaving the club to join Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers in January, and although many supporters were surprised by the appointment of former Clarets player Brian Laws, they were willing to get behind the recently sacked Sheffield Wednesday boss as he looked to keep the side in the Premier League.
Burnley now lie 19th in the table after winning just one of their last 17 league games. Despite their poor league form, a win against Stoke will move Brian Laws’ side above Hull City and Wolverhampton Wanderers into 17th place.
After a 1-0 home defeat against the Premier League’s surprise package Birmingham City in December, some were suggesting Stoke City could in for a tough second half to the season, but after a number of impressive performances since then, Tony Pulis’s side are looking up rather than down and could be set for a their first top ten finish in the top flight since 1975.
The Potters had an excellent start to 2010, not only in the Premier League but also in the FA Cup. A third round win over York City was followed by the shock of the fourth round as a Ricardo Fuller-inspired Stoke ran out 3-1 winners against Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium.
Few outside Staffordshire expected City to reach the sixth round after drawing Manchester City away, but after holding the Citizens to a 1-1 draw at Eastlands the Potters stunned Roberto Mancini’s men with a 3-1 win in the replay at home.
Withth the semi-finals one win away though, the Potters were knocked out after a 2-0 away defeat to Chelsea.
A good run in the FA Cup coincided with a number of impressive results in the Premier League, including wins over Fulham, Blackburn and Portsmouth, but after a run of 11 matches without defeat, the Potters have now lost their last two games and will hope to move closer to 10th spot with a win over a struggling Burnley side on Wednesday.
FORM GUIDE
Burnley
March 6 Arsenal 3-1 Burnley Premier League
Feb 27 Burnley 1-2 Portsmouth Premier League
Feb 21 Aston Villa 5-2 Burnley Premier League
Feb 9 Fulham 3-0 Burnley Premier League
Feb 6 Burnley 2-1 West Ham Premier League
Stoke City
March 7 Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City FA Cup
Feb 27 Stoke City 1-3 Arsenal Premier League
Feb 24 Stoke City 3-1 Manchester City FA Cup
Feb 20 Portsmouth 1-2 Stoke City Premier League
Feb 16 Stoke City 1-1 Manchester City Premier League
TEAM NEWS
Burnley
Brian Laws could be without top scorer Steven Fletcher after he suffered a broken hand on international duty with Scotland last week, so David Nugent could retain his lone striker role.
Midfielder Chris McCann is back in training after picking up a knee injury in January but will miss out once again as he steps up his recovery.
Captain Steven Caldwell is yet to feature in 2010 due to a groin injury and is still not ready to return, so Clarke Carlisle and Leon Cort will continue at centre-back.
Last Line-Up (v Arsenal): Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox; Alexander; Paterson, McDonald, Cork, Eagles; Nugent.
Stoke City
Glenn Whelan limped off during Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea with a hamstring injury and is a doubt so Liam Lawrence could deputise.
Salif Diao is out with a calf problem while James Beattie and Matthew Etherington (both knee) and Danny Higginbotham (back) could miss out.
Andy Wilkinson will retain his place at right-back as Ryan Shawcross serves the second of his three-match ban following his sending off against Arsenal.
Last Line-Up (v Chelsea): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Abdoulaye Faye, Collins; Whitehead, Delap, Whelan, Tuncay; Fuller, Sidibe.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Burnley
Harry Redknapp paid £6million to take David Nugent to Portsmouth in July 2007 but it was a move that didn’t work out for the striker. Despite winning the FA Cup in his first season at the club, the former Preston forward had a poor start to life in the Premier League and failed to score a league goal in 15 appearances.
After another frustrating year last season, he was loaned out to Burnley and made an immediate impact, scoring a brace after coming off the bench in just his second appearance against Sunderland. It was another three months before he got on the scoresheet again as he had to settle for a place on the bench due to the form of Steven Fletcher.
However, since the arrival of Brian Laws as manager, he has broken into the starting line up and after scoring against Arsenal on Saturday, the former England striker will be full of confidence and will provide the biggest threat to Stoke’s defence.
Stoke City
Tony Pulis was so impressed by the performances of Robert Huth during his time at Middlesbrough that he splashed out £5million for the services of the defender at the start of the season. The Germany international hasn’t disappointed and has been a regular in defence for Stoke this term.
Some believed the former Chelsea defender would not get a game at the Britannia Stadium due to the form of Ryan Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye at centre-back last season, but he has slotted in nicely at right-back and has put in a number of impressive performances that has earned him a recall to the international setup.
He was made captain for Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, despite the return of regular skipper Abdoulaye Faye, and although it is unknown whether he will keep the armband, the German’s influence on the rest of the team will be vital as the Potters look to pull off an away win over Burnley.
PREDICTION
Burnley are struggling at the moment and would have expected to beat Portsmouth in their last home match but after losing 2-1, Brian Laws’ side are now everybody’s tip to go down. The Clarets have lost eight of their last nine games and will find it tough against a well organised Stoke side.
Stoke had an excellent start to 2010 and were unbeaten in 11 games before defeat to Arsenal last month, but after back-to-back defeats, the Potters will look to get back on track against a Burnley side that have been poor recently. Brian Laws has not had much luck since taking over at Turf Moor in January and Stoke could gain a crucial away point.
Burnley 1-1 Stoke City