Clarets Mad - Clarets v Invincibles Match Preview.

Venue: Turf Moor, Harry Potts Way, Burnley, BB10 4BX.

Kick-off – 15.00 – Saturday, 11th February 2023.

Saturday afternoon at Turf Moor brings a meaty local derby between two founding members of the English Football League, when table topping Burnley entertain old local rivals Preston North End.

This will undoubtedly be a hard-fought game with Preston having lost only 2 away league games up to press and having won 8, which is exactly the same record as the Clarets. Burnley’s home record is excellent and they remain unbeaten at Turf Moor, but as we saw in the mid-week FA Cup replay against League One Ipswich Town, nothing can be taken for granted in the crazy world of football.

It was important for Claret’s boss Vincent Kompany to give some of his fringe players an opportunity to play on Tuesday night against the Tractor Boys; Foster, Twine, Bastien and Al-Dakhil all managed to get in some valuable playing time. It remains to be seen if the Burnley boss will play his strongest possible starting eleven against Preston and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the lay supporter at Burnley Football Club to understand exactly what Kompany’s strongest eleven really is.

The player recruitment at Turf Moor since the July transfer window in 2022 has been really quite remarkable, Burnley’s position in the Championship League table is not down to coincidence. Kompany has quality options all over the park and I would argue he has assembled the strongest playing squad in the division. Hence the Clarets league standing.

Preston currently lie in eleventh place in the Championship, a full 25 points behind Burnley, but such is the nature of this season’s topsy turvy league outside of the top two they remain only 4 points from a play-off place. Preston boss Ryan Lowe will no doubt be talking up the possibility to his players of a surprise away win at Turf Moor on Saturday.

On the injury front for Burnley, Johann Berg Gudmundsson is fit again and Manuel Benson and Aro Muric are almost certain to be available for selection. Lyle Foster left the field early against Ipswich with cramp but either a rejuvenated Ashley Barnes or fit again Jay Rodriguez will probably get the starting nod over latest arrival Foster. It will be interesting to see which pairing at centre-back gets a start from Kompany, Beyer, Al-Dakhil or Ekdal are all accomplished in the central defender’s role.

One’s to watch: Ryan Lowe will rely on Ched Evans and Emil Riis to trouble the Clarets defence, but goals for the Lilywhites are at a premium this season.

For the Clarets goals are coming from just about every quarter and the last time I counted seven**** players have contributed a goal or two for Vincent Kompany’s table toppers. Because the Clarets are scoring freely from all around the team it’s hard not to see how the lads in the Preston defence are not going to be in for a busy afternoon on Saturday.

Verdict: Preston North End have a current goal deficit of minus 6, Burnley are plus 32 and it’s hard not to see the Clarets extending their winning run to an incredible ten games. I’m tipping Burnley to win 3-0.

Footnote: 11th September 2010 is the date of a game which for me epitomises the truly crazy nature of football. Myself and my youngest son witnessed a remarkable turnaround when Burnley scored three late goals against 10-man Preston to secure an unlikely 4-3 success in a fantastic Lancashire derby. Former Wolves star and now TV pundit Chris Iwelumo opened the scoring for the Clarets, but Preston hit back and led 3-1 courtesy of goals from Adam Barton, Keith Treacy and Jon Parkin.

The visitors were apparently cruising to a comfortable away victory until they found themselves down to ten men when Billy Jones got himself sent off for time-wasting. Chris Iwelumo then completed his hat-trick in the final minutes and a single goal from Jay Rodriguez consigned the Lilywhites to an unexpected loss. Anywhere near the same excitement and the same result will send me, my son and two Clarets Mad grandsons home happy at five o’clock on Saturday teatime.

An opinion and post from The Editor’s Chair – Clarets Mad.

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