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It's been something of a wait for Eddie Howe to get his first home league as manager and he'll need to make the most of it because it will be another month before the next one.
The home games against Coventry and Middlesbrough have both been called off because of the FA Cup tie at West Ham and so we won't be on the Turf again until we face Crystal Palace four weeks today.
The last three games, all away, have been against teams currently struggling for any sort of form, but that changes today and the next three couldn't be tougher as we face three of the top seven, following up today's game against Norwich with visits to Watford and Cardiff.
A win today would mean Howe becoming the first Burnley manager since Stan Ternent to win his first home league game in charge; Steve Cotterill and Owen Coyle both drew theirs against Sheffield United and Stoke respectively whilst Chelsea beat us 2-1 in Brian Laws' first home game.
We're down to eleventh in the table now - already six points behind the play off places and a massive eleven points behind the now surely out of reach automatic promotion places.
The problem all season has been an inability to put a run together. Yes, we did have a run of six undefeated league games at one point but four of those were draws. If we can't do that now, and soon, any chances of reaching the top six will disappear. That was the target last summer and we won't reach it.
We're just about at the point where we are going to start needing to average two points per game to get into that top six and that's something only QPR are close to achieving so far this season.
Our visitors Norwich are, without doubt, enjoying an excellent season so far and one that surely is beyond their expectations.
I recall being sat at our pre-season friendly at St. Johnstone in August 2009, a week before the Premier League season got underway, and being told that Norwich were 5-0 down after just over 20 minutes at home to Colchester.
That brought about change, and quickly. Manager Bryan Gunn was sacked after that first game of the season and they went in and nicked the winning manager from Colchester, Paul Lambert. Colchester weren't happy at the way Norwich dealt with it but they got their man and they've not really looked back since.
There was no instant improvement and by the end of September they'd still only won two out of nine, but once they started winning the momentum built up and by the end of the season they'd won the league and were a massive nine points clear of second place Leeds.
This season was supposed to be one of consolidation but they've been up near the top all season and since September have not been lower than eighth.
We saw the best and worst of them at Carrow Road. In the first half we completely outplayed them, playing some of our best football this season, and went in at half time with a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Martin Paterson.
It was all change after the break. They were on top although they had some incredibly good fortune with a hotly disputed goal in stoppage time to get a point. I'm not sure how on earth the referee missed the handball.
Norwich drew their last away game 0-0 at Crystal Palace and that's only the second time they've failed to score on the road since Lambert took over. The other occasion was at QPR this season when they again drew 0-0 on a day when Wes Hoolahan missed a penalty.
They have the best away record in the Championship this season with 24 points from 14 games. Only Doncaster and Cardiff have recorded home wins against them.
Grant Holt is their leading scorer with ten league goals. His only previous Turf Moor appearance was for Sheffield Wednesday in April 2003 when they beat us 7-2.
Adam Drury is ready to return for Norwich. He missed the home game with Millwall because of a heavy cold. He was replaced by Marc Tierney but is expected to come straight back in.
There's more good news for Norwich with former Southampton and Wolves midfielder Andrew Surman on his way back, but today's game comes to early for him and he won't be included.
It is expected that, other than Drury for Tierney, Paul Lambert will name the side that beat Millwall on Tuesday and that is: John Ruddy, Russell Martin, Leon Barnett, Elliott Ward, Adam Drury, Henri Lansbury, Andrew Crofts, David Fox, Simon Lappin, Simeon Jackson, Grant Holt. Subs from: Jed Steer, Zak Whitbread, Marc Tierney, Korey Smith, Anthony McNamee, Wes Hoolahan, Chris Martin, Aaron Wilbraham.
There will have to be one change to the Burnley squad with the unfortunate Martin Paterson again ruled out with a thigh injury. He returned to the side at Norwich in November but four days later suffered the injury in the home game against Doncaster.
That ruled him out until last week and the return game at Doncaster saw him pull up after coming on as a substitute. There has been confirmation as to the severity of the injury this time but Pato has no chance of making it today.
His place in the match day squad will be taken by new midfield signing Marvin Bartley. He arrived late last Monday, the deal almost falling through because of a broken fax machine. He wasn't signed in time to be involved at Doncaster but assistant manager Jason Tindall has confirmed he'll play a part today.
Also playing a part will be our other January signing Charlie Austin. He took a half time bow last week in front of the home crowd at the Burton Albion cup tie before making his debut at Doncaster. I'd expect him to retain his place in the side today giving the home fans their first view of him in action.
It would not be a surprise to see the same starting eleven who disappointed at Doncaster. Howe will be looking for some consistency and he could well give that eleven another opportunity to impress.
If that's the case we will line up: Lee Grant, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Michael Duff, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Dean Marney, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs: Brian Jensen, Andre Bikey, Graham Alexander, Marvin Bartley, Ross Wallace, Steven Thompson, Chris Iwelumo.
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Our visitors, meanwhile, were down in 18th place and under the management of the ever popular Glenn Roeder.
Burnley restored Robbie Blake to the starting line up for the first time since August whilst Norwich had Darel Russell up front and it was Norwich who started the brighter of the two sides. Russell, who we had pursued strongly in the summer, missed an early chance and that swung the game Burnley's way.
Robbie took over. He'd come on as a sub four days earlier and scored a fabulous winner against Reading and we'd have been in front here had we taken our chances. Steven Thompson, Chris McCann and Clarke Carlisle all missed good opportunities.
Incredibly it was still 0-0 at half time and after a slow start to the second half we finally sprung to life. Blake found McCann who played in Chris Eagles. He was one-on-one with goalkeeper David Marshall and he played it through his legs and in for a much deserved 1-0 lead.
Our 1-0 lead lasted just five minutes. Then we won a free kick right by our own technical area (before they were switched). It was played to Robbie who brilliantly played it through for Eagles. A similar chance to the first one and again he made no mistake. 2-0 Burnley.
As Eagles celebrated the ITV cameras, being displayed on the big screen, zoomed in on Roeder. He didn't look too happy.
It was probably our best performance of the season so far and in the end we should have probably won it more convincingly than the 2-0 scoreline. Eagles took his goals well - Blake was brilliant.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Wade Elliott, Joey Gudjonsson (Kevin McDonald 74), Chris McCann, Chris Eagles, Robbie Blake (Martin Paterson 78), Steven Thompson (Jay Rodriguez 66). Subs not used: Diego Penny, Michael Duff.
Norwich: David Marshall, Elliot Omozusi (Jon Otsemobor 62), Gary Doherty, John Kennedy, Adam Drury, Lee Croft (Matty Pattison 62), Sammy Clingan, Mark Fotheringham (Jamie Cureton 71), David Bell, Darel Russell, Leroy Lita. Subs not used: Stuart Nelson, Ryan Bertrand.
Previous 20 Seasons | |||||
Season | Div | Ven | Result | Att | Scorers |
2000/01 | 1 | h | 2-0 | 15,017 | Payton Davis |
| . | . | a | 3-2 | 17,507 | Ball Taylor Moore |
2001/02 | 1 | a | 1-2 | 19,849 | Armstrong |
| . | . | h | 1-1 | 14,679 | Taylor |
2002/03 | 1 | h | 2-0 | 16,282 | McGregor Little |
. | . | a | 0-2 | 20,026 | . |
2003/04 | 1 | a | 0-2 | 16,407 | . |
| . | . | h | 3-5 | 12,417 | Wood May Blake |
2005/06 | C | a | 1-2 | 25,204 | Safri(og) |
| . | . | h | 2-0 | 11,938 | Gray Branch |
2006/07 | C | a | 4-1 | 24,717 | J O'Connor Gray(2) Mahon |
| . | . | h | 3-0 | 9,681 | Akinbiyi Gray Elliott |
2007/08 | C | h | 2-1 | 10,133 | Blake Gray(pen) |
. | . | a | 0-2 | 24,049 | . |
2008/09 | C | h | 2-0 | 11,353 | Eagles(2) |
| . | . | a | 1-1 | 24,363 | Thompson |
2010/11 | C | a | 2-2 | 24,519 | Paterson(2) |