Burnley travel to West Ham tomorrow as Owen Coyle pits his wits for the first time against former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola who has been in charge of the Hammers for fourteen months.
|
Zola is looking to get his side back to winning ways at home and said today: "It's a big opportunity for us. We need to get a victory at the Boleyn Ground. It's been a while since we had a victory so it's important, we know that. If we keep playing the football the way we're playing right now and improving certain things we have a good chance.
"I don't think it looked like we gained a point from the game at Hull last week. It looked like we lost two because after we equalised we had two clear chances to win it. Obviously we think we should have been celebrating a victory last week, but I believe it will give them more focus in certain moments of the game.
"I know on occasions we didn't handle it very well. We should have had more control of the game, and I'm assuming that will give them the focus when those moments come again and they will handle them better. It's simple. We were 2-0 and had to be more in control of the game."
Looking at Burnley, Zola added: "They are a good team. They play well. I saw them playing against Manchester City and was positively impressed by them.
"They have a good squad. They like passing the ball. I believe it will be an entertaining game. It is a team that also plays differently than the normal ones because they try to play a different kind of football with a lot of passing, very similar to what we do. It should be an interesting game."
Zola has not quite been inspired by Owen Coyle's reserve team action this season despite being only nine days older than the Clarets' boss. "I know he's doing a good job at Burnley and I also know he played in a game, so he gave me an idea of playing again," he said, before adding: "I'm only joking. I'm sure he's fitter than me."
But he did say of Coyle: "It's good. He's doing very well. He's got his team playing good football and he's getting results. It's good to see managers that encourage teams to play football and make it entertaining. I wish he would have success, but not on Saturday."
Coyle himself saw us pick up our first away point in the last game at Manchester City and is now looking for more. "Following on the back of our last away performance at Manchester City we have to go to West Ham and be as positive as we were there and look to try and win all three points.
"I have been pleased by the performances from the matches and if truth be told we could have had a better points return. But if we continue in that form then I'm sure we will continue to earn points.
"It's a challenge we are up for and everyone at the football club is really playing their part. We have to make sure we continue that momentum and that starts with West Ham."
He did add a word of caution. "West Ham, I believe, are a far better side than their league position, so we know it will be a tough game," he said. "They have international class players so it's going to be a tough afternoon and one we have to be ready for and be very positive in our approach." |
LIVE SCORES
