Clarets Mad - Clarets v Blades, English Premier League Match Preview.
Venue: Bramall Lane Stadium, Bramhall Lane, Sheffield S2 4SU.
Kick-off – 15.00 – 20th April 2024.
Last season’s promotion euphoria in both Burnley and Sheffield following automatic promotion to the English Premier League is now replaced by the bottom two teams fighting for the prize of the EPL’s “Wooden Spoon.” How times constantly change in the yo-yo rhythms of the English Football Leagues.
League tables do not lie and if the paltry combined total of 36 points for both Burnley and Sheffield United were added together they would still only be just about safe from relegation. The Clarets have 20 points, the Blades have 16, the Championship beckons and in the immortal words of the war time “Forces Sweetheart” Dame Vera Lynn, “We’ll meet again” and soon.
For Saturday’s encounter the only topic worth mentioning is whether or not Chris Wilder’s team can get revenge for the 5-0 hammering the Blades received at Turf Moor earlier in the season. And can Vincent Kompany’s Clarets put a bit of daylight between his team and the dread of being the EPL’s wooden spoon holders.
One’s to watch: Such is the paucity of goalscoring talent on display between both teams on this season’s evidence, I will go with the obvious, Fofana for Burnley and McBurnie for the Blades.
Verdict: Because Burnley have improved of late, 3 draws, 1 loss and 1 win in their last 5 games I will go for a narrow 2-1 away win.
Footnote: I for one will be glad to see the back of the awful, myopic and biased match officiating in the English Premier League and the woefully inept VAR, the officials for Saturday are Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Rebecca Welch. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.
Of particular interest for me will be to see what sort of reception Sander Berge gets from his old home crowd. I hope it’s a fair one.
Whatever the outcome of Saturday’s match, if you are attending - enjoy the game. (TEC).
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