Dario's here so that should mean goals

Billy Jones

There are no such problems now and things have steadily improved since the Milanese Gradi took over some 21 years ago.

He seems to have an uncanny ability to produce footballers, either kids who have joined the club from school or cast offs from other clubs. He’s done it with some success and constantly sold these players to keep the club competing at the higher level.

They don’t make too many signings but three new players arrived at the Alexandra Stadium in the summer. The first was young Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Williams who had been with them on loan last season and he was followed by the 6ft 4ins striker Andy White from Mansfield.

The third was former player Mark Rivers who was a target for Steve Cotterill but eventually returned to Crewe from Norwich after a short trial with Ipswich.

The biggest departure was defender David Wright who moved to Wigan in a deal that upset Dario because of the interference by the agent.

Like the Clarets they have won just one game, that coming at Derby on Bank Holiday Monday when they won 4-2. They led 2-0 after just 12 minutes through Steve Jones and David Vaughan but after Derby pulled it back further goals from Dean Ashton and a second from Jones completed the win.

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

Crewe are almost certain to start with the same side that won at Derby almost two weeks ago and will continue with the 4-3-3 formation they employed in that game. That would mean a starting line up of:

Ben Williams, Billy Jones, Adie Moses, Stephen Foster, Anthony Tonkin, Kenny Lunt, Neil Sorvel, David Vaughan, Steve Jones, Dean Ashton, Mark Rivers. Subs from: Clayton Ince, Richard Walker, Justin Cochrane, Michael Higdon, Lee Bell, Andy White, Luke Varney.

Dario G has promised an attacking performance and said, “We aren’t water tight at the back and I don’t think we can be when we are playing two wingers in a 4-3-3.

“They can’t always be back there defending, but what those wingers have to do is to look dangerous to justify their selection.”

As for the Clarets it will be the first team change of the season with Micah Hyde sitting out the first of three matches following his dismissal in the game against Gillingham. Despite encouraging sounds from the Chairman about new players coming in there has been nothing and so it will be the same squad less Hyde.

That is if Danny Coyne passes a fitness test after suffering a problem with his hamstring during training with the Welsh squad. Suggestions are that Coyne will come through.

The likelihood is that Lee Roche will come in for Hyde with Ian Moore moving up front into a 4-4-2 formation. If that’s the case, and if Coyne is fit, the Burnley team will be:

Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, John McGreal, Mo Camara, Lee Roche, Richard Chaplow, Tony Grant, Graham Branch, Ian Moore, Robbie Blake. Subs: Brian Jensen, Paul Scott, Ryan Townsend, Joel Pilkington, Matt O’Neill.

We’ll be hoping tomorrow brings us our first home win of the season and that is exactly what happened when Crewe visited the Turf last season. On that occasion it was 1-0 and the goal was one that will always be remembered by the scorer Richard Chaplow.

It was his first goal for the Clarets in what was an excellent performance alongside the man of the match Tony Grant as the Clarets dominated. A missed penalty from Robbie Blake thankfully didn’t prove to be too costly.

The teams were,

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Dean West, David May, Graham Branch, Mo Camara, Glen Little, Robbie Blake, Richard Chaplow (Arthur Gnohere 87), Tony Grant, Luke Chadwick, Ian Moore (Alan Moore 21). Subs not used: Paul Scott, Matt O’Neill.

Crewe: Clayton Ince, David Wright, David Vaughan, Stephen Foster, Adie Moses (Chris McCready 70), Kenny Lunt, Justin Cochrane (Neil Sorvel 71), Dave Brammer, Ben Rix (Allan Smart 77), Steve Jones, Dean Ashton. Subs not used: Ademola Bankole, Richard Walker.