Promoted Bournemouth back at Turf Moor

Last updated : 08 November 2013 By Tony Scholes

The last international break came after the 2-1 home win against Reading and this will be the fourth and last before the one set aside for the World Cup play-offs.

Since the last one we've won two league games, against Ipswich at Portman Road and at home against QPR and drawn 2-2 at Millwall last week. We go into this game knowing that a win will guarantee we remain top of the league for the next two weeks.

It's a game that has had a lot of publicity over this last week due to the connections between the two clubs. Here at Burnley our strike pair of Sam Vokes and Danny Ings are both former Bournemouth players as is Brian Stock who is likely to be a substitute.

David Jones is looking to be top going into the international break

Travelling up from Dorset are our former manager Eddie Howe and his assistant Jason Tindall and in their squad will be Marc Pugh a former apprentice at Turf Moor who made the bench for the first team but never got a debut before leaving just before the end of the 2005/06 season.

But the game is not about all those personalities, despite our club today suggesting Howe's return will make it a big day for the Burnley fans; it is about the three points as Burnley look to continue the good form shown this season.

Midfielder David Jones missed the last home game against West Ham. He was serving a one match ban for having accrued five yellow cards but would not have played in any case due to an injury.

He returned at Millwall and is now fully fit and ahead of the game he had a warning of the potential threat from Bournemouth. "They have got some good players so they will definitely be a threat and we are going to have to be on top of our game to get the result that we want," he said.

But about the Clarets, he added: "There's a really good mood. Players are playing well and everyone is just enjoying being around the club at the moment. You can sense it from the fans. They are enjoying watching us and their support has been reflected in our performances on the pitch.

"We want to go into the international break full of confidence and top of the league so we'll be definitely looking to be top of the league on Saturday night."

Jones partnered David Edgar last week with Dean Marney ruled out because of the injury he suffered in the win against QPR. That is the big question mark over team selection but I suspect Marney will be fit and will return to the starting eleven.

Also back in contention is Keith Treacy. He was suspended for the game at Millwall having just got back into the side a week earlier. With Scott Arfield back, and having turned in a man of the match performance at the Den, it is likely to be a substitute role for Treacy who I'm sure will be itching to get on against Howe's team.

I expect us to line up: Tom Heaton, Kieran Trippier, Michael Duff, Jason Shackell, Ben Mee, Scott Arfield, Dean Marney, David Jones, Michael Kightly, Danny Ings, Sam Vokes. Subs from: Alex Cisak, Kevin Long, Danny Lafferty, David Edgar, Brian Stock, Steven Hewitt, Junior Stanislas, Keith Treacy, Ryan Noble.

Bournemouth are here for this game because of a remarkable 2012/13 season. When Howe left Turf Moor to return to Dean Court they were struggling near the bottom of the league. They went on an amazing unbeaten run, then had a blip with five successive defeats in February and March before recovering in some style, winning the next eight games.

That left them with one game remaining and a win would have seen them come up as Champions. They had to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw at Tranmere and second place behind Brian Flynn's Doncaster.

They've done well enough so far in the Championship, this despite conceding 11 goals in their first two away games at Watford and Huddersfield. But they've had their moments on the road; they won at Doncaster and just three weeks ago earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest when Pugh got the late equaliser.

The one player definitely out of their team is goalkeeper Ryan Allsop who is suffering from glandular fever. Loan signing Lee Camp, from , is almost certain to play in goal.

The influential Matt Ritchie, a £500,000 signing from Swindon last January,  is on his way back from injury. Howe said they were aiming to give him a six week pre-season in two weeks but he didn't think he'd be ready for this game.

Definitely back in contention is central defender Elliott Ward who missed their last game, a 2-0 defeat at home to Bolton, having been sent off in the previous game. The red card was for a second yellow and so the suspension has been completed.

The Bournemouth team could be: Lee Camp, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Elliott Ward, Charlie Daniels, Ryan Fraser, Shaun MacDonald, Harry Arter, Marc Pugh, Lewis Grabban, Tokelo Rantie. Subs from: Darryl Flahavan, Shwan Jalal, Miles Addison, Ian Harte, Tommy Elphick, Richard Hughes, Wes Thomas, Andrew Surman, Brett Pitman.

 

Last Time They Were Here

It's a few years since Bournemouth played at Turf Moor. We faced each other in the 4th round of the FA  Cup in 2004/05 but their last league visit came in September 1999, early in our promotion season under Stan Ternent.

We'd started the season well. We'd drawn at Wycombe then won three successive games before going down to a 1-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers on August Bank Holiday due to the appalling referee Keith Hill.

Four days later, on the Friday night, Bournemouth came to Turf Moor as the Clarets hoped to go top of the league for a few hours. We did that with a 2-1 win in what was the best performance of the season so far.

Steve Davis heads the winner for Burnley on Bournemouth's last league visit to Turf Moor

Steve Davis was recalled to the side to partner Gordon Armstrong and Mitchell Thomas in a defence with three central defenders. They played well but it was winger Glen Little and midfielder Paul Cook who were the biggest influences in this performance.

Bournemouth had no answer to Little at times and Burnley were so much on top it was amazing that it took as long as 38 minutes to go in front. Andy Payton won the ball in midfield and drove forward before releasing Little. He broke down the right before crossing to Graham Branch who headed home confidently from 12 yards out.

Burnley were still celebrating when, forty seconds later, Bournemouth drew level. Steve Fletcher raided down the right and rode two tackles. His cross found Mark Stein who slotted home from close range.

When Burnley went in front again, seventeen minutes into the second half, it proved to be the winner. It came from a free kick on the left which Cook hit to the back post for Davis to head home.

Bournemouth put us under some pressure in the closing ten minutes but the defence were so much on top of their game and ensured the points were ours.

The teams were;

Burnley: Paul Crichton, Dean West, Steve Davis, Gordon Armstrong, Mitchell Thomas, Paul Smith (Tom Cowan 65), Glen Little, Micky Mellon, Paul Cook (Ronnie Jepson 89), Andy Payton, Graham Branch (Lenny Johnrose 80). Subs not used: Chris Brass, Mark Robertson.

Bournemouth: Mark Ovendale, Neil Young, Christer Warren, Eddie Howe, Ian Cox, Scott Mean, Jamie Day (Jon O'Neill 76), Jason Tindall (Kevin Betsy 53), Mark Stein, Steve Fletcher, William Huck (Claus Jorgensen 58). Subs not used: Gareth Stewart, John Bailey.

 

Previous Games against Bournemouth

 

Last 20 Years
Season Comp Ven Res Att  Scorers
1993/94 Division 2 a 0-1 5,574  
    h 4-0 10,383 Eyres, Philliskirk, Joyce, Davis
1995/96 Division 2 a 2-0 4,954 Vinnicombe, Nogan
    h 0-0 7,941  
1996/97 Division 2 h 1-0 8,564 Barnes
    a 0-0 6,021  
1997/98 Division 2 h 2-2 9,501 Waddle, Creaney
    a 1-2 6,527 Matthew(pen)
1998/99 Division 2 a 0-5 5,907  
    h 0-0 9,802  
1999/2000 Division 2 h 2-1 10,223 Branch, Davis
    a 1-0 5,804 Payton
2004/05 FA Cup h 2-0 9,944 Moore(2)

 

Click HERE to see all previous results against Bournemouth