Clarets Mad - Clarets v Terriers Match Preview.

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

Kick-off – 15.00 – Saturday 25th February 2023.

Away trips to Luton Town and Millwall are over, four points won, and the Champions in waiting Burnley are back at Turf Moor on Saturday where the Clarets take on Neil Warnock’s relegation haunted Huddersfield Town.

Seventy-four-year-old Neil Warnock was brought out of mothballed retirement in what seemed to me to be an act of desperation by the Huddersfield Town hierarchy, but the old rogue managed the Terriers to a 2-1 win over Birmingham City in his first game in charge.

The Terriers suffered a 3-0 reverse at Stoke City mid-week, and he now brings his former and latest team to what will be a hostile reception from the home crowd. Former Clarets gaffer Stan Ternent had a long running feud with Warnock and the Clarets faithful have long memories and are rather fond of keeping hold of hostilities; it helps to keep them fired up and get rousingly behind Vincent Kompany’s Claret & Blue charges.

The reverse fixture at the John Smith’s Stadium saw Burnley win 1-0 in what was Vincent Kompany’s first game in charge of the Clarets back in early August 2022.

One’s to watch: Joe Hungbo and Jaheim Headley both carry a threat for the Terriers and long serving midfielder Jonathan Hogg is the man who glues the Huddersfield team together.

Ashley Barnes’ recent performances for the Clarets must mean the 33-year-old centre-forward has earned himself a new deal for next season at least; two goals in his last two appearances speak volumes about the hard man’s ability and endurance. Annas Zaroury is due a goal or two, Nathan Tella is fit and raring to start, with Twine, Foster and Obafemi all chomping on the bit, I can see a hatful for the Clarets on Saturday.

Verdict: A Red Rose clash, a large vocal home crowd, a hungry for success Clarets team will I think prove to be too much for the Terriers, and I predict a comfortable 4-0 home win, Warnock or no Warnock.

Footnote: Whilst there is no room for sentiment in the dog-eat-dog world of Championship football, I was looking forward to seeing Matthew Lowton playing again but he will have to sit this one out: he’s on loan from the Clarets which rules him out for selection on Saturday afternoon. 183 appearances and three goals made him a firm favourite with Burnley fans, who could ever forget the “Worldie” he scored at Selhurst Park in a 3-0 rout of Crystal Palace. Good luck for the future Matty.

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

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