West Ham v Burnley Match Preview

[outwoodclaret]

Hope that was rekindled by the stirring victory over Everton was surely all but extinguished by two abject displays last weekend; firstly by Manchester United at Goodison Park and then by Burnley themselves at Carrow Road. “And Now the End is Near” begins the song My Way and surely the Clarets stay in the Premier League is coming to an end. A team who have won only four games in their opening 30 league fixtures must now win at least four, if not five, of their remaining eight games. That is a Herculean task for a side that have lost 5 of their last 6. We had to beat Norwich and signally failed to do so. Signally failed to score a goal in two meetings with the Canaries.

Burnley now travel to face West Ham on Sunday and the fortunes of the two clubs could not be more contrasting this season. The Hammers booked their place in the Europa League semifinals on Thursday night with an assured display against Olympique Lyonnais. A comprehensive 0-3 win with goals from Dawson, Rice and Bowen secured a meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt in the next round. The Hammers are also well-placed for a top six finish in the Premier League. While the Happy Hammers are blowing bubbles, the Clarets bubble has burst. David Moyes will have the luxury of making a few changes on Sunday from the side sent out to face Lyon. Fabianski should return in goal replacing Areola while Noble, Benrahma and Yarmolenko who all came on as late substitutes in Lyon will push for starting places. Aaron Cresswell is available again after suspension. Kurt Zouma has less than a cat in hells chance of returning from the injury he sustained in the loss to Brentford so Issa Diop will continue to deputise. I do not know how Burnley can change their line-up to address the shortcomings that have been so painfully obvious in recent weeks. We need goals and somehow Sean Dyche will need to coax the best from a combination of Rodriguez, Weghorst and Cornet. Skipper Ben Mee remains on the injured list. It is Easter. What can we do but hope and pray for a change in fortune?

Kick off is at 2:15pm. The weather will be sunny with a gentle breeze. The match referee is Paul Tierney with Andre Marriner on VAR. COYC!

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I fear a hammering outwood. 4-1 and gone.

[ClaretinBudapest]

Whu 4 bfc 0

[kritichris]

Could it be one of those games where the players up their performance after a managerial change, 2-1 to WHU, they are still too good for us.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

WTF just happened?

[army88]

I fear the comfortable players will feel
Less so that’s for definite

[Vintage Claret]

I am hoping the on Sunday Alan Pace has our new manager sat with him at West Ham.

If that was the case it may mean that our team will be out to impress that new manager, in order to maintain there place in the starting line up.

[sinkov]

Should be 'interesting'. If Dyche has lost the dressing room, as some seem to believe, then we should see a re-invigorated Burnley, playing the 'good' football Dyche has been preventing them from playing. On the other hand, if the players are shocked and bereft at seeing him leave, despite their professional pride, an early West Ham goal could see heads going down. We surely still have enough about us to get a draw out of this, but who knows ?

[Norder]

.





Just beat it....
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight...



Michael Jackson - Beat It

[kritichris]

Whooaah, 1-0 to us, Weghorst.