Having played two home games this week, against Watford and Burton Albion, the season really gets underway tomorrow with our first away game of the season and a trip to Crystal Palace.
It's been no ordinary week unfortunately. Everything seemed to be going fine. We'd come back from two goals behind against Watford to draw 2-2 and then scored six in the Carling Cup tie against Burton.
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| Brian Easton is expected to replace Danny Fox |
The day after the Burton game is when things changed. First came news that the game at Palace might be called off because of the disorder problems that had spread to Croydon, not far from Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace closed for the day on Wednesday as news filtered through that the Premier League and Football League would be making a decision by Thursday evening. In the end the news came through yesterday afternoon that the game would go ahead, just as we were reeling at the news of Southampton signing Danny Fox.
It's sort of turned attention away from the game as far as the fans were concerned. They were unhappy at yet another player going out of the door with manager Eddie Howe saying: “I’m very disappointed to see Danny go. He has been a very consistent performer for us.
“To lose another player at this stage of the season is a big blow to us, but the board received an offer they felt they could not turn down. So we have to accept that, although it’s far from ideal.”
Eventually attention had to turn to the game and Burnley will be looking to get their first win at Palace since December 2001 when Ian Moore (then without the Thomas) ended a barren spell to score twice in a 2-1 win. That was Palace's first game under the management of Trevor Francis.
Like this week, we went into that game having suffered a shock loss of a regular first teamer with Paul Cook having gone to Wigan on loan.
We do know that Howe will have to make two changes to the side that started at home to Watford last week. Brian Easton is expected to come in for Fox whilst Charlie Austin is certain to get his first league start of the season with Martin Paterson out for the next couple of months or so with a muscle tear in his thigh.
One other question is whether Keith Treacy, a substitute last week, will start. He's been short of games and missed out again in midweek. Rather than getting 90 (or even 120) minutes with Burnley he was used as a late substitute by the Republic of Ireland. I suspect he'll probably be on the bench again.
The other area where there could be a change is in central midfield and it probably would not be a surprise to see Marvin Bartley come in for Dean Marney who has been disappointing in the two games so far.
If so, the Burnley team is likely to be: Lee Grant, Kieran Trippier, Andre Amougou, Ben Mee, Brian Easton, Wade Elliott, Marvin Bartley, Chris McCann, Ross Wallace, Charlie Austin, Jay Rodriguez. Subs from: Brian Jensen, David Edgar, Michael Duff, Dean Marney, Alex MacDonald, Keith Treacy, Wes Fletcher.
Our Opponents - A Palace View
This week our look at Palace is through the eyes of Stephen Bridle from Palace's Five Year Plan Fanzine.
When we spoke to him yesterday, news was just filtering through regards Danny Fox and Stephen commented on the Burnley board's statement and in particular the line "The Board is ever-mindful that we must balance the books and keep our wages at a manageable level to ensure the future of this football club."
Stephen pointed out: "I’m sure you’re all aware of the trouble Palace faced with administration in recent seasons, and whilst I hope and am sure you will be able to escape this misfortune, I’d like to reassure you that ‘balancing the books’ now before you get to the stage of sleepless nights wondering “will I still have a team to support next season” is probably for the best. It’ll all work out in the end. Keep the faith!"
Immediately looking at the game he said: "I’d like to extend a welcome on behalf of Crystal Palace to all Burnley fans making the trip down to Selhurst for this Saturday’s Championship clash.
"In last season’s fixture at Selhurst, a 0-0 draw, the Clarets played some of the best football we were privy to in south London’s premiere (ahem) footballing venue and we’ll be hoping for more of the same this time."
Palace have only played once. Their home cup tie against Crawley was called off and they were beaten last Saturday at Peterborough.
"In our opening game of the season we were treated to an exciting first half of football in which Palace had the better of home-team Peterborough; we even managed 5 shots on goal in the opening four minutes – something Eagles fans are certainly not used to after a scrappy end to last year," Stephen said.
"That being said we broke down in the second half, allowing Posh back into the game much to our detriment – ending up with no points to show for our efforts and a 2-1 loss."
Crystal Palace had a good home record last season. The reason they were down near the bottom was due to the fact that only once, at Norwich, did they win away from home.
"Palace fans will be hoping to continue the home form of the 2010/11 season that saw us nigh-unbeatable at Fortress Selhurst, so if that’s anything to go by YOU can expect a tough 90 minutes," Stephen added.
"But don’t worry yet! Wonder-kid right-back Nathaniel Clyne is missing for the next few months due to a broken bone in his foot and left-back Dean Moxey is suspended for the game, leaving loanees Peter Ramage and Ryan McGivern to stand in.
"A promising striking partnership between academy graduate Sean Scannell and new signing from Brighton Glenn Murray seemed to be taking shape, before Murray limped off and was later spotted in a cast.
"The good news for you guys is that this leaves us with an untested, or undesirable, pairing at the front or even –gulp – one upfront.
"Though, having said all that, Palace are a new team this season amidst the turmoil of players leaving and arriving, owners defaulting and buying, and managers drinking and buggering during recent times.
"With Palace legend Dougie Freedman at the helm in his first full season as a manager, a strong bond has formed at the club between the players and the fans on account of all of the recent financial buggery and what is tantamount to a brand-spanking-new team (for the most part) will be on display once more this season – so anything is possible!
"So good luck for this Saturday! (You’ll hopefully need it!)"
Palace lined up last week: Julian Speroni, Peter Ramage, Andrew Davies, Patrick McCarthy, Ryan McGivern (Owen Garvan), Darren Ambrose, Kagisho Dikgacoi, David Wright, Jonathon Parr, Sean Scannell (Wilfried Zaha), Glenn Murray (Jermaine Easter 77). Subs not used: Lewis Price, Alexsandar Tunchev.
Last Time We Were There
Stephen referred to it, that Burnley played some of the best football seen at Selhurst Park last season. That was back in September of last year when we turned in what was undoubtedly one of our best away performances of the season, apart from the fact that we didn't manage to find the net.
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| Jay Rodriguez - on after 20 minutes |
It didn't start particularly well and we struggled to find our feet in the first twenty minutes. The only highlight was the appearance of a fox on the pitch at the precise moment that Danny Fox was receiving treatment.
Things changed for the better with the introduction of Jay Rodriguez for the injured Ross Wallace. This was, without any doubt, the game that changed the season for Jay Rod.
He got 70 minutes or so and such was his performance that manager Brian Laws didn't hesitate in giving him a start in the next game and he's not lost his place since.
Chris Eagles hit an absolute rocket from fully 30-yards that smashed against the bar and from that point we were very much in control for the rest of the first half, playing better than we'd done up to that point in the season.
In the second half we got even better. Jay was the next to hit the woodwork after some great work from Wade Elliott and when we did get our shots on target we found Julian Speroni, the Palace goalkeeper in sensational form.
Incredibly, right at the end, Brian Jensen had to turn a Neil Danns shot onto the post but that would have been a rank injustice. A point was scant reward for a performance that I consider was our best away from home in the whole of last season.
The teams were;
Crystal Palace: Julian Speroni, Alex Marrow, Patrick McCarthy, Claude Davis, Nathaniel Clyne, Owen Garvan, Andy Dorman (Julian Bennett 61), Kieron Cadogan (Wilfried Zaha 45), Neil Danns, Kieran Dlilali (Calvin Andrew 82), James Vaughan. Subs not used: Lewis Price, Stuart O'Keefe, Pablo Counago, Adam Barrett.
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Clarke Carlisle, Andre Bikey, Danny Fox, Jack Cork, Wade Elliott, Dean Marney, Chris Eagles, Chris Iwelumo (Steven Thompson 70), Ross Wallace (Jay Rodriguez 21). Subs not used: Lee Grant, Michael Duff, Leon Cort, Graham Alexander, Martin Paterson.