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Burnley Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 28/10/2002

TOWN enter yet another vital home game, this time against Burnley, with some real team selection problems. These problems on the back of the 4-1 mauling at Wolves on Saturday makes it look a tough game against an improving Burnley side.

Home > 2002-2003 Season > Previews > Burnley (h)


The Bottom Line

Confidence around Blundell is starting to wane after yet another defeat on Saturday. With the squad down to it’s bare bones another spirited performance will be needed to take anything out of the game.

The Opposition - Any Good?

Before their 3-0 reverse at home to league leaders Portsmouth on Saturday, Burnley were in fine form hauling a mighty 21 points from nine games, going all those games (plus two cup ones) unbeaten. If it wasn’t for their awful start then they would be right up there with the chasing pack. As it happens, they currently lie tenth in the table. They also have some decent players - watch out for Ian Moore (son of Ronnie), Gareth Taylor (left) and their 'keeper Marlon Beresford who is hoping to secure a long term contract in the next week.

Recent Form

 

TownBurnley
LWolves(a)1-4
DRotherham(h)0-3
LWatford(a)1-2
WIpswich(h)3-0
LReading(h)0-3
LPortsmouth(h)0-3
DIpswich(a)2-2
WLeicester(a)1-0
WWalsall(h)2-1
WSheff Wed(a)3-1

Players To Watch

 

TownBurnley

Danny Coyne

Glen Little

Town fans know all about Danny Coyne. He is "Wales Number One" and a truly class act in between the posts for the Mariners winning the player of the year award the past two seasons. Last season he was rightly given his chance to play for Wales in a friendly, earning his second cap and is now regularly picked for the Wales squad.

A tricky winger who joined the Clarets from Glentoran in November 1996. Little has great pace and is deadly from set pieces and crosses. His impressive commitment and enthusiasm for the Turf Moor side over the years have meant that he has constantly been linked to a Premier League side, particularly last season when he was in fine form, paying back his £100,000 many times over with some inspirational performances.

Top Scorers

 

TownBurnley

Kabba 4
Pouton 3
Barnard 2

Blake 3
I Moore 3
Little 2
Taylor 2

Team News

 

TownBurnley

  • The Mariners have major problems in central midfield. Alan Pouton is almost certainly out after needing six stitches in his foot after Saturday’s game with Wolves.

  • Meanwhile, George Santos has not been signed up in time to play and so will miss out on this game and the next three having being forced to serve his three match ban for his sending off against Rotherham.

  • This means that Stacy Coldicott will be recalled to midfield, with Stuart Campbell moving to the centre and Terry Cooke out wide.

  • This leaves the Town squad right down to perhaps the smallest size it has been for years. Provided the side starts as it did on Saturday except the two changes in midfield, Paul Robinson will be the most senior player on the bench at the age of 23 having started just seven games for the Mariners and only 12 in his whole career!

  • With Saturday’s game with Gillingham looming and the suspension of Paul Raven coming up, Paul Groves will hope that he himself will return to full fitness otherwise Town may have to field yet another youngster in defence.
  • Stan Ternant has few injury problems to contend with. The only real doubt is defender Ian Cox who picked up a knock in Saturday’s game with Portsmouth. If he fails to make it then skipper Steve Davis, who has recently been playing in midfield, will slot into the backline and will be replaced by ex Manchester City midfielder Tony Grant.

  • Elsewhere, Burnley are expected to keep the side that lost on Saturday, in a 4-3-3 formation with Ian Moore, Robbie Blake and Gareth Taylor up front.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownBurnley
    Danny Coyne
    Iain Ward
    Simon Ford
    Paul Raven
    Tony Gallimore
    Darren Barnard
    Stuart Campbell
    Stacy Coldicott
    Terry Cooke
    Steve Livingstone
    Steve Kabba
    Marlon Beresford
    Dean West
    Lee Briscoe
    Ian Cox
    David Arthur Gnohere
    Glen Little
    Steve Davis
    Graham Branch
    Ian Moore
    Robbie Blake
    Gareth Taylor

    Subs

     

    TownBurnley
    Wes Parker
    Darren Mansaram
    Chris Bolder
    Paul Robinson
    Sean Allaway (GK)
    Tony Grant
    Paul Weller
    Dimitrios Papadopoulos
    Brad Maylett
    Paul Cook

    Last Time Out

    Oh! How long ago it seems since we last played Burnley! The hysteria of the last home game of last season signalled perhaps the most joyous scenes at Blundell Park since the Wembley days. The game was meant to be a tough, tight one that either side might sneak 1-0. Of course, it didn’t. Town were 3-0 up at half time in a crazy half that saw Michael Boulding (2) and Bradley Allen bag the Mariners goals. In the second half, nothing much happened – apart from a fleeting appearance by Paul Gascoigne – but it didn’t matter because that win kept the Mariners where they are today. What great memories!

    Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Chapman, Todd, Groves, Pouton, Coldicott, Butterfield, Cooke, Allen, Boulding.
    Subs: Paul Robinson, Simon Ford, Steve Livingstone, Wayne Burnett and Steve Croudson. Attendance: 9,275    Report

    Burnley Head-to-Head (67th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: 2-0 to Town Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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