Big game tonight for under-21s

Last updated : 04 March 2014 By Tony Scholes
Captain Alex Coleman

A month ago the game was called off around half an hour before kick off due to the pitch being waterlogged. It looked as though things would be fine and the players were even warming up when an early evening deluge put paid to things.

It will be a different looking Burnley tonight, both on the pitch and the touchline where Andy Farrell will be in charge of his first competitive match since taking over as coach from Jason Blake.

He's without the services of goalkeeper Conor Mitchell as well as both full backs Cameron Dummigan and Luke Conlan, all of whom are on international duty for Northern Ireland this week.

Cameron Howieson is also ruled out; he's gone to Japan with the New Zealand squad for a friendly at full international level.

Farrell said today: "Some of the younger players will get an opportunity to impress and I'm looking forward to it. The nucleus will be mainly the players that have played in the development squad, as no first teamers have travelled."

Looking forward to being in charge of the team, he said: I didn't think I'd get a visit back to St. James' Park. It takes me back to my footballing days, at least in terms of playing."

Andy might not want reminding too much of his last game there for Burnley. As it turned out it proved to be his last league appearance for us. He came on as a substitute for Les Thompson in a game we lost 4-1 with Warren Joyce getting our goal.

As for tonight, he'll be hoping for a much better result than that against a strong Exeter team at this level with a trip to Manchester City awaiting the winners.