please log in to view this image Burnley vs Leeds United please log in to view this image Saturday March 15th, 2014 - K.O 15:00 - Turf Moor please log in to view this image With fans' discussions centring almost completely on the dross in the side and whether or not McDermott should still be in the dugout come Saturday, some might even forgotten that there is a trip across the Pennines to face as well. Burnley fans don't have such worries. Burnley are currently comfortably occupying second place in the Championship table, so Sean Dyche will be looking for them to keep putting pressure on Leicester with a win here. Last time out Leeds suffered another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Reading. Despite making several changes to the side, the Whites still couldn't come up with the winning formula. With the season all but over for Leeds, it really is a question of players playing to prove that they deserve to wear the shirt next season, and for the pride of finishing in the top half of the table. Burnley drew away at Birmingham in the midweek fixture, something of a surprise result considering the teams relative positions, but it continues an impressive unbeaten streak. What Do the Stats Say? Leeds fans, take solace in the fact that historically the Whites have been the stronger side, with 29 wins to 16. Aaaaaaaaaaannndd now look away, or go and hide, y'know just don't read this bit. The rest of the stats don't make happy reading. Burnley are on an impressive 11 game unbeaten run, but at Turf Moor they haven't lost in 21, now that's a fortress. With 11 goals in their last 5 games, a Leeds defence that has been shaky will be up against it this weekend. The Clarets have also been winning at half time and full time of their last 3, so if you're a betting man....... The Leeds stats don't make for quite such happy reading with no win in 5, and only 2 wins in the last 16. Leeds have also seen less than 2.5 goals on average in their last 3 on the road, where Burnley have scored more than 2 in their last 4. Unfortunately for Leeds fans, everything points to a Burnley win. Form Guide (Last 5 League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Form[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Burnley[/TD] [TD]X - W - W - W - X[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]L - D - X - L - L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11[/TD] [TD="align: center"]2[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Head to Head (Previous League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Team[/TD] [TD="align: center"]P[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]GD[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]55[/TD] [TD="align: center"]29[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [TD="align: center"]16[/TD] [TD="align: center"]93[/TD] [TD="align: center"]73[/TD] [TD="align: center"]20[/TD] [TD="align: center"]97[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Burnley[/TD] [TD="align: center"]55[/TD] [TD="align: center"]16[/TD] [TD="align: center"]10[/TD] [TD="align: center"]29[/TD] [TD="align: center"]73[/TD] [TD="align: center"]93[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-20[/TD] [TD="align: center"]58[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 13/03/14) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Burnley Win[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Draw[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Leeds Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"] 8/11[/TD] [TD="align: center"] 13/5[/TD] [TD="align: center"] 15/4[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Burnley Top Scorers (League) Danny Ings...20 Sam Vokes...18 Scott Arfield...5 Danny Ings is doubtful for this one after picking up a knock midweek, so January signing Ashley Barnes could start in his place. Leading scorer Sam Vokes will lead the line with Michael Kightly tipped to start in midfield. Otherwise Dyche doesn't need to mess with a team on form as good as this, so expect things to be largely the same as they have been in recent games. Leeds United Top Scorers (League) Ross McCormack...23 Matt Smith...9 Rodolph Austin...3 Brian McDermott is seemingly at sea with his team selections at the minute. With rumours that 5 players were dropped for disciplinary reasons following the Bolton game, and then the team failing to win against Reading its anyones guess who actually takes to the field this time out. There were some signs of encouragement going forwards with "enough chances created to get a draw" but it is the defensive frailty that will be put to the test here. The Damned Prediction: 3-1 Loss Burnley haven't had a problem scoring all season long, so up against a defence low on confidence and with the pressure of fans expectation on their back I can't see that changing here. I don't know whether McDermott has lost the dressing room, but some motivation needs to come from somewhere to stop what could turn into an appalling run if we concede a few here. Ross needs to lead on the pitch not just in ability but in attitude and grit and determination too. Playing against the second placed team in the league who haven't lost in 21 at home doesn't leap off the page as "bad run ending game" so I expect more misery before it (hopefully) gets better. please log in to view this image What's that? Has Damned gone and lost the plot? That's right folks BACK TO THE DIAMOND! Yep, that formation we all loved to hate towards the start of the season. Why did we play it? Lack of width, and as far as I'm concerned we still have a shocking lack of width. Also, I thought about 3-5-2 like I suggested for the midweek, but I couldn't decide whether we actually have 3 centre backs worthy of starting. See, I've even picked Peltier there over Lees... Otherwise, it all pretty much explains itself I think. Brown in for Austin, though I think Brian will start him just off the back of that goal. Over to the hardcore faithful. Who's making the trip? Score and team predictions on the back of a postcard.
I predict i'm taking the kids to London for the day. Seasons over and another embarrassing whipping is heading our way unless McDermott gets them playing for the shirt. Sadly I now think he is incapable of that. Burnley play at a good tempo and will pass round our midfield no problem. Looking at how many goals we have shipped recently Ings and Vokes would be excused for thinking they could be in for a successful afternoon. Surely this is the end for McDermott.
Going to see an away win 0-2. Burnley are about to have their squeaky bum time. Clubs very really stroll to promotion, Leicester will. Burnley will get over the line on the last day of the season.
I quite like the look of the diamond especially with Brown at the base. Doubt BMD will go for a diamond, but you never know. Maybe Austin and Brown with Murphy & Mowatt out wide. Hoping for a win, but any sort of creible performance would be a start, especially as it looks as though the T/O might just happen soon. So BMD and the players need to show Cellino why they should be retained for next season
We badly need points to stop the slide or we could end up in a bit of a relegation fight but I don't see this as the game where we are going to achieve it. The team does have a good win in it's locker but we have rarely seen that this year, I know we are capable of winning if Burnley take us too lightly and the players are up for it however I see this as another drubbing. Opposition are starting to look at us and see it as a way of not only getting an easy 3 points but improving their goal difference too. I thought the last game was Mcdermotts in charge, think we would stand more chance of a win if he put 18 players name into a hat and pulled 11 out at random.
BURNLEY TEAM Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell (c), Mee; Arfield, Jones, Marney, Wallace; Barnes, Vokes
LEEDS TEAM Butland, Byram, Lees, Pearce, Pugh, Mowatt, Austin, Murphy, Wickham, McCormack, Smith Subs: Cairns, Wootton, Warnock, Brown, Stewart, Poleon, Hunt.
