Relegation could be sealed tonight

Last updated : 21 April 2004 By Tony Scholes

Nicky Platt in Liverpool colours before joining the Clarets
Anything but a win for the Clarets will condemn us to a relegation and a two bob league with non-league clubs and afternoon kick offs. Heaven knows what that will do for our youth scheme although it was said earlier in the season that results did not matter.

It is though just a matter of time and even if we were to win our last three games, all at home, then it is still hardly likely that we will stay up.

But we can make a major contribution tonight to help Preston join us, they are one of the clubs fighting to avoid the other relegation place and they are currently having a run that I thought only our reserves could manage, they have lost all of their last seven.

The Clarets will again include the two trialists who were involved at Hull last week and that will mean a game against his own club for striker Fola Onibuje who will once again line up for the Clarets alongside Sunderland full back Chris Scott who impressed last week.

They will line up alongside eight scholars and one schoolboy, Nicky Platt, whilst there are three more scholars and two schoolboys on the bench including Irish striker Kyle Lafferty who will hopefully be available for the LFA Youth Cup Final next Monday.

The full Burnley team is:

Michael Hale, Chris Scott, Danny Pitham, Ryan Townsend, Paul Scott, Marc Pugh, Darrell Avery, Nicky Platt, Tom Ince, Rhys Carpenter, Fola Onibuje. Subs: Mark Crossley, Neal Trotman, Gary Carter, Alex Taylor, Kyle Lafferty.

It is an inexperienced Preston side that we will line up against, after all the Weary Whinger has been hit with injuries more than all the other clubs in the Football League put together.

They will line up tonight:

Tom Upson, Anthony Warriner, James Archer, Kyle Armstrong, Kiaran Hopkinson, Warren Beattie, Ashley Parrilon, Richard Baker, Mark Jackson, Aaron McConville, Ashley Stott. Subs: Chris Neal, Paul Kenworthy.

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