Dave's Pilgrim & Leeds update...

Dave Thornley is getting all moist in anticipation of tomorrow night?s big game. Mee Too Dave#
Dave writes: In my previous offering, following the drawn game against Sunderland, I bemoaned Burnley?s apparent timidity in front of goal. Perhaps the Clarets were suitably chastened, as in their next outing, at Home Park, Plymouth last Wednesday night, they roundly thumped the Pilgrims to the tune of five first half goals to nil.
Poor though Plymouth undoubtedly were, the inability of Burnley to comprehensively put away sub-standard opponents has been a recurring theme throughout the season, it was therefore gratifying that the streak of ruthlessness required by all teams with aspirations of glory was at last displayed.
Zian Flemming?s skilfully volleyed finish to Josh Brownhill?s skilfully volleyed cross set the tone and Burnley proceeded to wreak havoc down the right wing, with Jaidon Anthony delivering an assist for Flemming?s second, and Conor Roberts providing a pull back for Josh Laurent to score from round about the penalty spot.
Laurent added his second, and Burnley?s fourth from much closer range, nodding in from virtually under the crossbar, and Josh Cullen rounded off the scoring as a stray back pass presented him with a straightforward chance.
Burnley cruised through a second half as though it was a training session, conserving energy and preventing injury ahead of their next fixture, tomorrow night?s Turf Moor clash against top-of-the-table Leeds United.
Ahead of this game, Burnley have been presented with two gifts from unexpected sources; Hull City?s 3-0 win over Sheffield United on Friday night, and a late equaliser yesterday afternoon which earned the aforementioned Plymouth a point as unlikely as a British winner of Eurovision, away to Sunderland.
It is facile to suggest that tomorrow night?s game will be season defining for the Clarets, but the result will nevertheless assume considerable importance.
On Saturday lunchtime?s Football Focus, the blokey and irritatingly gushing Mark ?Clem? Clemmit, visited Leeds? training campus and invited Brenden Aaronsen and Daniel James to pose for a selfie in front of a mural depicting the likes of John Charles, Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton, Allan Clarke and others from the club?s glory days.
Those days of title and cup wins, achieved with the ruthless efficiency of a Panzer Corps, are long ago and far away, but fixtures against Leeds still resonate vividly with echoes of previous epic encounters.
The paths of the two clubs have often coincided down the years and Leeds have frequently presented an obstacle for the Clarets to overcome in pursuit of their own ambitions.
None more so than tomorrow night, it is a game to be relished, one which will be hard-fought and, in all probability, tight. A win for Leeds will open up a gap for them at the top of the table, whilst a Burnley win will put them within goal difference of the summit.
Bring it on!
Editor's note: I'm asking for a raucous atmosphere with us Clarets outdoing the Leeds fans and helping to add three more points as we look to returned to the EPL at the first time of asking. (TEC.)