Clarets take off for Plymouth

Williamson brought in a total of six new players during the summer, five of them in permanent deals and one on loan. The first to arrive was Yugoslavian born Swedish midfielder Bojan Djordjic and it was no surprise to see him come from a Scottish club, in this case Rangers. The biggest surprise of all was that none of the other signings came from north of the border.

Full back Anthony Barness was next, having been released by Sam Allardyce at Bolton, and then it was another full back Rufus Brevett who left West Ham. That was just the prelude to the biggest surprise of all when they brought in Taribo West who had been playing his football for Al-Arabi.

Amazingly the Nigerian central defender seems to have been around for ever but he is still just 31 and is now, after a delay, enjoying his second spell in English football after previously playing for Derby five years ago.

Portuguese defender Nuno Mendes completed the permanent signings and then just a week before Williamson left he brought in Blackburn’s Matt Derbyshire on a long term loan, that being completed on the last day of August before the transfer window closed.

There have been very few departures to accommodate the new players although long serving players David Worrell, Peter Gilbert and Graham Coughlan have all moved on.

The season hasn’t started well for them and to date, like the Clarets, they have won just once, that win a surprise 2-1 result on the opening day of the season at Reading.

Williamson’s assistant Jock Scott is in temporary charge. He doesn’t lack experience and has managed five different Scottish clubs as well as Notts County during his nineteen years as a manager.

He’s not expected to get the job and candidates have already been interviewed including former Burnley boss Stan Ternent. It is believed that John Gregory, Peter Reid and Tony Pulis could also be in the running.

But it will still be Scott tomorrow when the Clarets go looking for a first away win of the season.

Click HERE to see all Plymouth’s results this season.

Jock Scott has changed the formation since taking over and will employ a 4-3-3 formation with loanee Matt Derbyshire and Scott Taylor playing alongside Nick Chadwick. That is how they lined up in their 1-1 draw with Crewe on Tuesday and the manager has confirmed that it will be the same again.

The only possible change is at right back. Paul Connolly is ruled out and Anthony Barness, who has replaced him, was substituted on Tuesday. If he is ruled out then Paul Wotton will move to full back with Hungarian Akos Buzsaky replacing him in midfield.

If Barness is passed fit then Plymouth will line up: Romain Larrieu, Anthony Barness, Matthias Doumbe, Hasney Aljofree, Rufus Brevett, David Norris, Paul Wotton, Bojan Djordjic, Matt Derbyshire, Scott Taylor, Nick Chadwick. Subs: Luke McCormick, Tony Capaldi, Akos Buzsaky, Bjarni Gudjonsson, Micky Evans.

Click HERE to see Plymouth’s full squad.

Steve Cotterill is almost certain to be without Frank Sinclair again, he is currently suffering hamstring problems of Glen Little proportions. Given the performance of Keith Lowe at Preston on Tuesday it has lessened the need to rush Frank back and he will almost certainly sit this one out.

Wade Elliott is also a doubt but should start if passed fit and that would mean same again for the Clarets who will be without Garreth O’Connor, who will complete his three match ban, and of course long term injury victims Wayne Thomas and Danny Karbassiyoon.

We will line up: Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Keith Lowe, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (or Graham Branch), Micah Hyde, James O’Connor, John Spicer, Gifton Noel-Williams, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs: Brian Jensen, Duane Courtney, Chris McCann, Karl Bermingham, Graham Branch (or Kyle Lafferty).

A run of three successive 1-0 victories came to and end in a dour game that the Clarets struggled to get into against a powerful and physical Plymouth.

It did look as though we would hang on for a 0-0 draw but Gary Cahill gave away a stoppage time penalty that was converted by Paul Wotton to give the home side the three points.

The teams were,

Plymouth: Romain Larrieu, David Worrell, Paul Wotton, Graham Coughlan, Peter Gilbert, David Norris, Steve Adams (Lee Hodges 87), Tony Capaldi, David Friio, Micky Evans (Marino Keith 89), Stevie Crawford. Subs not used: Keith Lasley, Paul Connolly, Blair Sturrock.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Michael Duff, Gary Cahill, Frank Sinclair, Mo Camara, Lee Roche (John McGreal 33), James O’Connor, Tony Grant, Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake. Subs not used: Paul Scott, Joel Pilkington, Amadou Sanokho, Mark Yates.