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Premier League Preview: Burnley - West Ham United
Battle of claret and blue at Turf Moor
Feb 5, 2010 11:18:00 AM
By Jamie Dunn
Kickoff: Saturday 6 February, 15:00 GMT
Turf Moor, Burnley, Lancashire
Burnley have been forced into a change of personnel in recent weeks as Owen Coyle’s departure for Bolton Wanderers forced the powers that be at Turf Moor to search for a new manager. Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws took the reigns in what has become a turbulent spell in the Clarets’ debut Premier League season.
Laws has made far from a blistering start in Lancashire as he searches for his first point – let alone his first win – as Burnley manager. Victory at Turf Moor could potentially lift the Clarets out of the relegation zone as Burnley look for hope in life after Coyle.
Equally keen for a new dawn are fellow bottom half battlers West Ham United. After former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan finally fulfilled their dream of taking over at Upton Park, the place must have been filled with a rejuvenated sense of optimism.
What followed however was a fairly dull stalemate as Blackburn Rovers travelled to east London and left with a point. It wasn’t exactly the ideal kick start to the season the Boleyn Ground were hoping for – more of a stutter in fact – but it could have been a lot worse, and with the new owners reaching into their pockets in January, things are looking up.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last three games, but all have been draws with only one goal scored in that time. If the Hammers can punctuate that run with a victory at Turf Moor however, the new regime will be hopeful of an extended spell of success.
FORM GUIDE
Burnley
Burnley 1-2 Chelsea (Prem)
Bolton 1-0 Burnley (Prem)
Reading 1-0 Burnley (FA Cup)
Man Utd 3-0 Burnley (Prem)
MK Dons 1-2 Burnley (FA Cup)
West Ham
West Ham 0-0 Blackburn (Prem)
Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham (Prem)
Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham (Prem)
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Tottenham 2-0 West Ham (Prem)
TEAM NEWS
Burnley
Stephen Jordan could return to the Burnley defence after a hamstring injury, but is unlikely to be joined by new signing Danny Fox who faces a late fitness test. Chris McCann is also a doubt, while Graham Alexander and Steven Caldwell will both miss out.
David Nugent has returned to the club after extending his loan move from Portsmouth, and another temporary signing, Chelsea’s Jack Cork, could make his debut.
Possible Starting XI: Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Jordan; Blake, Bikey, McDonald, Eagles, Elliott; Fletcher.
West Ham
Zola suddenly has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal after a busy transfer deadline day saw the arrivals of strikers Benni McCarthy, Ilan and Mido. With the Italian suggesting McCarthy and Carlton Cole could form a partnership akin to Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole last week, the South African is the most likely to get the nod.
Kieron Dyer could be in line for his umpteenth return from injury meanwhile, along with Herita Ilunga, but Luis Boa Morte, Zavon Hines, Calum Davenport, Guille Franco and Danny Gabbidon are all out.
Possible Starting XI: Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Collison, Noble, Parker, Behrami; Mccarthy, Cole.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Burnley
After failing to make the grade at Manchester United, Chris Eagles has grabbed the opportunity to prove his Premier League worth with both hands at Turf Moor this season. The midfielder is a livewire, playing a vital role in linking play to the final third of the pitch, and could hold the key to unlocking West Ham’s recently resolute back line.
West Ham
Gold and Sullivan have brought in attacking reinforcements, but it is the return from injury of Carlton Cole that will most delight the majority of the Upton Park faithful. The powerful front man had been in tremendous form prior to picking up a knock, and was well on his way to his best ever goal return for a season. If Cole can hit the ground running again, West Ham could be fired to safety.
PREDICTION
The meeting between these two sides earlier in the season ended 5-3 to West Ham at Upton Park, and while the neutrals will have their fingers crossed for more of the same, Burnley are difficult to break down at home. The football on show will please the purists, but the honours may be even come full time.
Burnley 1-1 West Ham United
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Turf Moor, Burnley, Lancashire
Burnley have been forced into a change of personnel in recent weeks as Owen Coyle’s departure for Bolton Wanderers forced the powers that be at Turf Moor to search for a new manager. Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws took the reigns in what has become a turbulent spell in the Clarets’ debut Premier League season.
Laws has made far from a blistering start in Lancashire as he searches for his first point – let alone his first win – as Burnley manager. Victory at Turf Moor could potentially lift the Clarets out of the relegation zone as Burnley look for hope in life after Coyle.
Equally keen for a new dawn are fellow bottom half battlers West Ham United. After former Birmingham City owners David Gold and David Sullivan finally fulfilled their dream of taking over at Upton Park, the place must have been filled with a rejuvenated sense of optimism.
What followed however was a fairly dull stalemate as Blackburn Rovers travelled to east London and left with a point. It wasn’t exactly the ideal kick start to the season the Boleyn Ground were hoping for – more of a stutter in fact – but it could have been a lot worse, and with the new owners reaching into their pockets in January, things are looking up.
West Ham are unbeaten in their last three games, but all have been draws with only one goal scored in that time. If the Hammers can punctuate that run with a victory at Turf Moor however, the new regime will be hopeful of an extended spell of success.
FORM GUIDE
Burnley
Burnley 1-2 Chelsea (Prem)
Bolton 1-0 Burnley (Prem)
Reading 1-0 Burnley (FA Cup)
Man Utd 3-0 Burnley (Prem)
MK Dons 1-2 Burnley (FA Cup)
West Ham
West Ham 0-0 Blackburn (Prem)
Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham (Prem)
Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham (Prem)
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Tottenham 2-0 West Ham (Prem)
TEAM NEWS
Burnley
Stephen Jordan could return to the Burnley defence after a hamstring injury, but is unlikely to be joined by new signing Danny Fox who faces a late fitness test. Chris McCann is also a doubt, while Graham Alexander and Steven Caldwell will both miss out.
David Nugent has returned to the club after extending his loan move from Portsmouth, and another temporary signing, Chelsea’s Jack Cork, could make his debut.
Possible Starting XI: Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Jordan; Blake, Bikey, McDonald, Eagles, Elliott; Fletcher.
West Ham
Zola suddenly has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal after a busy transfer deadline day saw the arrivals of strikers Benni McCarthy, Ilan and Mido. With the Italian suggesting McCarthy and Carlton Cole could form a partnership akin to Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole last week, the South African is the most likely to get the nod.
Kieron Dyer could be in line for his umpteenth return from injury meanwhile, along with Herita Ilunga, but Luis Boa Morte, Zavon Hines, Calum Davenport, Guille Franco and Danny Gabbidon are all out.
Possible Starting XI: Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Collison, Noble, Parker, Behrami; Mccarthy, Cole.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Burnley
After failing to make the grade at Manchester United, Chris Eagles has grabbed the opportunity to prove his Premier League worth with both hands at Turf Moor this season. The midfielder is a livewire, playing a vital role in linking play to the final third of the pitch, and could hold the key to unlocking West Ham’s recently resolute back line.
West Ham
Gold and Sullivan have brought in attacking reinforcements, but it is the return from injury of Carlton Cole that will most delight the majority of the Upton Park faithful. The powerful front man had been in tremendous form prior to picking up a knock, and was well on his way to his best ever goal return for a season. If Cole can hit the ground running again, West Ham could be fired to safety.
PREDICTION
The meeting between these two sides earlier in the season ended 5-3 to West Ham at Upton Park, and while the neutrals will have their fingers crossed for more of the same, Burnley are difficult to break down at home. The football on show will please the purists, but the honours may be even come full time.
Burnley 1-1 West Ham United
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