Clarets v Eagles Match Preview.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Clarets Mad - Clarets v Eagles, English Premier League Match Preview.
Venue: Selhurst Park Stadium, White Horse Lane, London SE25 6PU.
Kick-off – 15-00 - 24th February 2024.

Saturday brings the end of an era for former England boss Roy Hodson. The well-travelled and former Palace boss has left his post in south London due to ill-health. I am sure Burnley fans will take a collective moment to wish Roy all the best in his retirement.

The Palace chairman Steve Parish wasted no time in appointing a new coach who was at Goodison to witness the Clarets next opponent’s defensive strength and organisation. No doubt the draw at Everton will have enthused new Eagles’ boss Oliver Glasner and former Eintracht Frankfurt coach.

Burnley will unquestionably need an all-hands-on deck approach to ward off the Eagles “new manager bounce effect” on Saturday afternoon, especially after the 5-0 mauling the Clarets received from the Gunners last weekend at Turf Moor.

One’s to watch: Attacking wise Burnley were toothless against the Gunners in their last outing and like last week Wilson Odobert and Chelsea loanee David Fofana are likely to form the Clarets’ offensive threat with Zeki Amdouni fitting into a three-man attacking unit.

It is hard to see a reverse in form for the Clarets; a lack of cohesion, a familiar pattern of not scoring enough and conceding too many goals are the reason Burnley are in deep relegation trouble.

For the Eagles, Ghana forward Jordan Ayew has been a persistent thorn in the Clarets side, he thumped a superb strike into the far corner of the Everton net on Monday night and is ably abetted by strike partner Jean Philippe Mateta.

The pairing are likely to cause the Burnley defence a troublesome Saturday afternoon and the leaky Clarets defence will also be tested by former Blackburn Rovers starlet Adam Wharton who is earning rave reviews since his £22.5 million deadline day switch to south London.

Verdict: Both teams desperately need three points from this fixture, it is another veritable relegation “six-pointer” and despite the Burnley captain Josh Brownhill’s post-Arsenal media fired optimism it is difficult for me to see his team getting anything from this game. I’m going with a 3-0 home win.

Footnote: Three years ago, on February 21, 2021, was the last time I was at Selhurst Park and somewhat against the odds the Clarets came home with a 3-0 win under their belt. Two first half goals from Gudmundsson and Rodriguez followed by a second half worldy from Matty Lowton secured a dynamic three points for Sean Dyche’s team. Can Vincent Kompany repeat the trick? We live in hope.

Whatever the outcome, enjoy the game. (TEC).