A Posh day at the Turf

Some will suggest the international break came at a good time, but I think, going into it on the back of three successive defeat, it couldn't have come at a worse time.

Things have been even worse for our visitors Peterborough. They've lost all of their league games to date, losing at Leicester and Birmingham with home defeats against Millwall and Leeds sandwiched between them. They are also out of the Capital One Cup, beaten by Reading in the second round after a comprehensive 4-0 win against Southend in the first round.

Losing the captaincy, like a weight lifted for McCann

The last of those league defeats, at Birmingham two weeks ago, was somewhat unfortunate. On the day it was reported that they were every bit as good as their hosts but fell to defeat courtesy of a comedic goal courtesy of their own goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

It's a run of poor results that they are very much looking to end. They failed to win any of their last six games last season, drawing three and winning three, and the last time they did win was a 1-0 victory against Leicester at London Road at the end of March.

Their goal that day was scored by Paul Taylor, but the leading goalscorer of last season is no longer with them having joined Ipswich, against whom he scored a hat trick last season, at the end of August.

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony promised there would be big signings in the summer and he certainly didn't let the fans down if big meant the length of their names as all of Nat Knight-Percival, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Johnson Clarke-Harris were all signed from Wrexham, Wolves and Coventry respectively.

They were joined by the aforementioned Olejnik from Torquay, Danny Swanson (Dundee United), Michael Bostwick (Stevenage) and Kane Ferdinand (Southend).

Of those, only Olejnik and Bostwick have won regular places in the first team with Swanson also having made one start. None of the others have, as yet, featured, but it is believed Ferdinand, whose cousin Anton will be selective with his handshakes tomorrow, could get his debut.

Besides Ferdinand, there could also be recalls for Lee Frecklington and Craig Alcock. Both were used as substitutes at Birmingham as was Emile Sinclair who scored both Peterborough goals against us in the 2-1 defeat at London Road last season.

Their team at Birmingham (with the squad numbers have now been included following a number of requests) was: 1. Bobby Olejnik, 24. Kgosi Ntlhe (3. Craig Alcock), 5. Gabriel Zakuani (23. Lee Frecklington), 19. Mark Little, 4. Sean Brisley, 7. Danny Swanson (12. Emile Sinclair), 6. Michael Bostwick, 11. Grant McCann, 8. Lee Tomlin, 9. Tyrone Barnett, 10. George Boyd. Subs not used: 13 Joe Day, 17: Joe Newell, 20: Nathaniel Knight-Percival, 22: Johnson Clarke-Harris.

Burnley, like Peterborough, are currently occupying one of the relegation places. Unlike Peterborough, we are just a win from mid table whereas three more points wouldn't lift Posh out of the bottom three.

Many thought there could be an addition or two to the squad for this game with the emergency loan window now open, but manager Eddie Howe has confirmed that he's not looking to bring anyone else in unless we pick up further injuries.

He's somewhat guardedly said that Martin Paterson is fit again. Whilst confirming this he also warned: "We do have to treat Pato carefully and be very sensible with what we do, and what we ask him to do, but I see no reason why he can't stay fit for a number of games."

One player definitely fit and ready for the game is former captain Chris McCann. He's spoken this week about losing the captaincy and admitted that it was as if a weight had been lifted.

"Someone said to me I'm back playing with a smile on my face, and that says it all," he said. "Not that it was a problem being captain, but it feels like a weight has been lifted and I can concentrate more on my own game.

"I was worrying about other things rather than myself, and now I can worry about myself, think more about my game, and that showed against Bolton. The gaffer wants to give me that freedom and I'll benefit from that."

A fit Paterson and an in form McCann will very much be a boost to the team. Both are believed to be in talks regarding new contracts with their current deals coming to an end at the end of this season.

As for the team; I think there could be some changes. I wouldn't be surprised to see Michael Duff return and it could be that Brian Stock will finally make his first league start for the Clarets tomorrow.

If so, we could line up: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Joseph Mills, Brian Stock, Dean Marney, Chris McCann, Martin Paterson, Charlie Austin, Cameron Stewart. Subs from: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Ben Mee, Danny Lafferty, Marvin Bartley, Junior Stanislas, Ross Wallace, Sam Vokes.

Last Time They Were Here

An 87th minute equaliser from Jay Rodriguez, the Clarets Mad Goal of the Season,  should be the one thing remembered most from last season's home game against Peterborough, but alas not.

For so many people, that game, played on the first Saturday in February this year, ended early as they made their way home as the weather turned seriously nasty.

Poor weather had been forecast but that was the least of our worries as Paul Taylor gave Posh a first half lead. We were so disappointing in the first half and fell behind with only 12 minutes gone. Ironically it came from a rare Burnley effort on goal too.

Charlie Austin headed straight into the hands of goalkeeper Joe Lewis who quickly cleared upfield. Michael Duff got there and was thankful his poor header dropped kindly for Ben Mee. Unfortunately there was no such fortune for Mee who hesitated allowing Taylor to get onto the ball.

Goal of the Season from Jay Rod

Even then, David Edgar could have forced him wider than he did but was left helpless, as was Lee Grant, in the end as Taylor fired home a powerful shot.

We were really struggling and were very fortunate not to concede again and the home fans were grateful to go in at half time with only that one goal deficit.

By half time the weather was worsening and already people were making their way to the exits, and just to make matters worse for the supporters, the half time interval run for over 20 minutes.

Thankfully, things improved in the second half, and I don't mean the weather. That got worse, far worse, but Burnley dominated the football. Chris McCann headed over with probably our best chance and things improved when Keith Treacy replaced the totally out of touch Josh McQuoid.

Treacy put some really good balls into the box to no avail. The well rehearsed corner routine didn't quite work, and it looked as though we were heading for another home defeat.

Then, with three minutes remaining, came the goal of the season. Zavon Hines, another substitute and on his last Turf Moor appearance, played the ball to Jay Rod across the half way line on the right.

Jay went on a run towards the left and heading forward. He got to the edge of the box, turned and went inside two players before sliding the ball home past Lewis. It was a stunning goal. It might not have warmed things up too much but it got us a point.

At that point, I'll end the recollections, or I'll start to have those nightmares of the walk home again, the only consolation being the fact that I'd a much shorter journey than many others at the game, those who were still there at the end.

The teams were;

Burnley: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, David Edgar, Ben Mee (Marvin Bartley 76), Ross Wallace, Dean Marney (Zavon Hines 83), Chris McCann, Josh McQuoid (Keith Treacy 70), Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Brian Easton. 

Peterborough United: Joe Lewis, Mark Little, Ryan Bennett, Gabriel Zakuani, George Boyd, Grant McCann, Tommy Rowe, David Ball, Lee Frecklington (Ryan Tunnicliffe 70), Paul Taylor, Craig Alcock. Subs not used: Paul Jones, Daniel Kearns, Emile Sinclair.

Previous Games against Peterborough

Click HERE to see all previous results against Peterborough