Arsenal v Burnley: Gunners eye top spot

With Chelsea involved in FA Cup action and Manchester United not playing Wolves until 5.30pm (GMT) tonight Arsene Wenger has the perfect opportunity to return to the top of the Premier League with a win over Burnley, albeit maybe for a few hours. A convincing 4-0 win for the Gunners will send them...

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Burnley: Clarets still have a golden chance of beating drop

Burnley missed out on a glorious opportunity to climb out of the bottom three at the weekend following their surprise home defeat against basement boys Portsmouth. Some calamitous defending from the Countdown ace Clarke Carlisle cost the Clarets dear but Burnley fans always knew life in the Premier ...

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England: Who should Fabio choose as his No 1 for South Africa?

In less than 100 days the greatest show on earth kicks off in South Africa but England manager Fabio Capello still has major issues to resolve before he finalises on his squad who will be given the task of bringing the World Cup home. Who will fill the left-back role if Ashley Cole fails to recover ...

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Burnley v Portsmouth: Laws out to hammer Pompey

So Portsmouth Football Club have been saved by going into administration. Unfortunately it may mean that their Premier League adventure is about to end but they could end the week by bringing all three points back from Burnley this afternoon. Burnley have been brilliant at home this season, with th...

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Is Wayne Bridge right to turn his back on England?

Representing your country in the World Cup is supposed to be every footballer’s dream. Every one bar Wayne Bridge that is. The Manchester City left-back has kicked his international career into row Z due to the fall-out of John Terry’s alleged affair with his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children...

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Aston Villa v Burnley: The Villains are out to break the Laws

Burnley are yet to win away in the Premier League while Villa have only lost twice at home all season . . . umm I wonder what the result will be?! Martin O’Neill could not have handpicked better opposition as he aims to keep his Villains in the race for fourth spot. Brian Laws’s Clarets have colle...

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Fulham vs Burnley: Fulham hoping for improvement

Fulham's recent record has been poor but another finish in the top half of the division is very much on the cards once some key players regain match fitness. Burnley have briefly dipped their toe in the shark infested waters south of 17th place - but quickly withdrew the appendage with a win at the...

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Burnley vs West Ham United: Prediction Panel 2009/10

Two teams that are seemingly heading in opposite directions, with 19th placed Burnley having dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season playing 15th placed West Ham who have just moved out of the bottom three. Above Portsmouth the next six teams, including these two, are separa...

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Burnley v Chelsea: Will the leaders slip up at Turf Moor?

Chelsea’s convincing win over Birmingham in midweek sent them back to the top of the table but Burnley’s defeat at Bolton, combined with Wolves’ point against Liverpool, saw the Clarets slip into the bottom three for the first time this season. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been on fire in recent weeks...

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Bolton Wanderers vs Burnley: Heated stalemate?

A Lancashire derby between two teams scrapping to avoid relegation - and one team has just nicked the other teams manager - Bolton vs Burnley will not be a game for the faint-hearted. Bolton start the game a point from safety in 19th place, with Burnley just two points better off in 15th. Bolton l...

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Manchester United v Burnley: Fergie’s set to teach Brian the Laws of top flight football

It has been a poor start to 2010 for the champions Manchester United. They were dumped out of the FA Cup by bitter rivals Leeds United at home and are still searching for their first win of the year. However, the revelations about the Glazers possibly selling Old Trafford and Carrington training gro...

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Some Thoughts On Brian Laws At Burnley

On first viewing the appointment of Brian Laws as Burnleys new boss seems an odd one. The new man had been sacked recently by Sheffield Wednesday with the Owls lying in the Championship bottom three but there may be more to his appointment with careful assessment. Its not possible to be party to wh...

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Burnley: Who will replace Coyle at Turf Moor?

Burnley fans treated Owen Coyle as God – unfortunately the former St Johnstone boss never felt the same about his disciples at Turf Moor. Despite turning down his boyhood club Celtic in the summer, Coyle has done the unthinkable and left the Clarets in the lurch halfway through their long awaited re...

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Burnley transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 7 January 2010

Since the start of the month the speculation that Burnley will lose Owen Coyle to Bolton has intensified to the point where it now just seems like a matter of time. A last minute Martin O'Neill style change of mind seems less and less likely. Before the manager got all unsettled the likelihood was...

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Everton v Burnley: Clarets seek an end to their away day blues

Everton may have lost a number of first team regulars in 2009 through injury but there’s no sign of them losing their fighting spirit. The Toffees never know when they are beaten and showed their battling abilities again on Boxing Day by coming from behind at the Stadium of Light to draw their fourt...

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Burnley vs Bolton Wanderers: Burnley need to win to fend of relegation fears

Burnley start the day in 14th and face Bolton who are in the relegation zone but will go ahead of their Lancashire neighbours with a win. Burnley have such a good home record that you instinctively feel they should be tucked away safely in mid-table. But a raucous home support and Graham Alexander...

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Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley: It’s D-Day for McCarthy

This is the day when Mick McCarthy’s decision to rest 10 players against Manchester United at Old Trafford pays off or blows up in his face. The former Sunderland chief stunned football by changing his entire outfield team despite having beaten Tottenham Hotspur at the Lane just days earlier. McCa...

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Burnley v Arsenal: Gunners must win to prove title credentials

Results at the weekend went in Arsenal’s favour and from being ruled out as title contenders the Gunners are now right back in the hunt for the Premiership. Arsenal showed tremendous character and commitment to come back from a goal down at Anfield but Arsene Wenger knows that result will mean nothi...

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Burnley vs Fulham: Will Burnley catch Fulham thinking of Europe?

Two teams either side of mid-table meet, as Burnley host Fulham. Burnley's formidable home record has yielded sixteen points in just seven games - and has already got the club almost half safe. But after a couple of chastening home defeats to relegation candidates where seven goals were conceded B...

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Portsmouth v Burnley: Burnley target away day success

If Portsmouth are to have any hope of beating the drop this season then this is a game they simply must win. The Fratton Park side are currently three points adrift of fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, who face Bolton this weekend in a huge six-pointer, but are a massive seven points from s...

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West Ham United v Burnley: Irons set to Hammer the Clarets

Burnley head to Upton Park this afternoon looking for their first away win of the season. Unfortunately for them, history is not on their side as they have only managed one win at the Boleyn Ground in their last 19 visits! However, West Ham haven’t been so prolific at home themselves, with only one ...

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Burnley's home record under severe threat from Aston Villa

Burnley have started the season in good form and start this game in tenth place but face a strong Aston Villa side that look good value to challenge strongly for a top four finish. Burnley are starting to leak goals and Villa are starting to score them - suggesting that Burnley's excellent home for...

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Manchester City v Burnley: Is another away day horror show on the cards for Burnley?

Manchester City have only lost once this season but after four draws on the trot Mark Hughes has to get City back to winning ways this afternoon against a Burnley side who are frankly hopeless on the road. City should be buoyed by the return of former Arsenal duo Toure and Adebayor who were sorely ...

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Burnley look to go halfway safe against Hull

Big game at Turf Moor between Burnley and Hull - two teams likely to be in the bottom six of the division at the end of the season. Burnley's 100% home record has now gone but it is at Turf Moor that the club will attempt to maintain its Premier League status. Interestingly Burnley has already won...

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Burnley v Wigan Athletic: Clarets out to bury ghost of derby defeat

Burnley return to the safe haven of Turf Moor this weekend following their derby day defeat by Blackburn Rovers, but those of you who think that it will be business as normal at home for the Clarets should think again as the Latics appear to have some sort of hold over their Lancashire counterparts....

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Blackburn Rovers v Burnley: Who will gain local bragging rights?

Some people claim this East Lancashire derby is the biggest in British football. Most neutrals wouldn’t know as games between the two have been few and far between in recent years. However, this afternoon at Ewood Park, the whole world will find out just what this game means to the passionate people...

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Blackburn Rovers v Burnley: Who’d make it into the ultimate starting 11?

This weekend sees the return of one of the most passionate derby games in the English game. Just 12 miles separate Burnley and Blackburn Rovers and to say there is a bit of needle between them is an understatement. This will be their first meeting in the top flight for 43 years and the atmosphere in...

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The Old Firm: Premier League? You’re having a laugh!

Martin Luther King famously had a dream of racial equality and an end to discrimination. I too have a dream but sadly it isn’t as prophetic as that. I just want to live to see Aberdeen crowned as SPL champions. Now that may sound ridiculous to many of you given the Dons’ recent lack of silverware bu...

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Burnley v Birmingham City: Will Coyle or McLeish win the battle of the Scots?

Hoots Mon! Turf Moor will be transformed into little Scotland on Saturday when Owen Coyle welcomes his fellow countryman Alex McLeish to Lancashire. But it won’t just be in the dugout where the Scots will be in charge. The Scottish feel extends to the pitch as there could be no fewer than nine Scott...

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Tottenham looks to reignite its top four ambitions against travel-sick Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur's last couple of games has dented the ambition of a top four ambition, but against Burnley today Harry Redknapp will be looking for a bounce. Chelsea and Manchester United both played well against Spurs - if Spurs had caught either on an off-day then either result could have been ...

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Bruce, Hodgson or Redknapp: Who is the best English manager in the Premier League?

There are just eight English-born managers in the Premier League and, at this moment in time (September 23, 2009), half of them fill the bottom four places in the table. But is that due to their lack of chances at managing a top club or are they lacking that something extra to be a success at the hi...

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Manchester derby: Was this the greatest Premier League game ever?

Sir Alex Ferguson has described Manchester United’s action-packed 4-3 over their rivals Manchester City as the greatest Manchester derby of all time and it’s hard to refute that claim. From start to finish it was pulsating viewing and had absolutely everything a fan could ask for – goals galore, def...

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Burnley v Sunderland: Can Bent tame the Beast?

The Clarets were given a bloody nose last weekend at Anfield, thanks to a hat-trick from Yossi Benayoun, but this Saturday they welcome Sunderland to Turf Moor hoping to keep their 100 per cent winning home record going. Manchester United and Everton have both succumbed to Owen Coyle’s men at home, ...

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Can Burnley weather an early Anfield onslaught?

Liverpool is playing catch up in the league and will regard every home game as an opportunity at least until the likes of Chelsea and Man United are caught - so Burnley can expect an early onslaught. Six points from four games is not the ideal start for a team that was the title pick of a number of...

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Burnley v Everton: Can the Toffees do what the champions couldn’t?

Burnley stunned the football world in midweek by beating the champions Manchester United in their first home game back in the top flight and this afternoon they will be keen to make it two home wins on the bounce against David Moyes’s Everton. When the fixture list was announced nobody could see Bu...

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Burnley meet Manchester United at a good time

Burnley opened up with a predictable 2-0 reverse at Stoke City at the weekend, whereas Manchester United struggled more than was expected against Birmingham City - and the champions in a benign opening sequence of games now travel north twenty miles to face another newly promoted team. Burnley show...

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Burnley v Manchester United: Can the Clarets shock the champions?

Stoke City may have brought Burnley’s promotion party back down to earth with a thud at the weekend but Turf Moor will be bouncing tonight as the Clarets entertain the champions Manchester United for the first time in the top flight for 33 years. Owen Coyle is already treated like a God in Burnley ...

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Who will be the major winners in 2009/10?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got millions in the bank or are millions in debt, and no-one cares if you have a World Cup winner up front or somebody who couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo, at the start of every season everyone believes that this is the year for their team. It doesn’t matter if y...

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Stoke City v Burnley: Clarets to face baptism of fire at the Britannia

If anyone had predicted that Stoke City v Burnley would be a Premier League fixture two seasons ago you would have been wheeled off to the nearest loonie bin before you could say “the referee’s a *£$%£%!” But Tony Pulis and Owen Coyle have worked wonders at their respective clubs and deserve to be r...

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Squarefootball's fantasy football challenge

Do you see yourself as the next Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger? Do you think you can pick a better team than Harry Redknapp or Rafa Benitez? Brilliant, then why don’t you join us in competing for the coveted Squarefootball fantasy league crown? For the past few years we at Squarefootball to...

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Squarefootball's fantasy football challenge

Do you see yourself as the next Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger? Do you think you can pick a better team than Harry Redknapp or Rafa Benitez? Brilliant, then why don’t you join us in competing for the coveted Squarefootball fantasy league crown? For the past few years we at Squarefootball towers...

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Sir Bobby Robson - A tribute to a true gentleman

The world of football lost one of its most famous sons yesterday. Sir Bobby Robson, the former Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, Barcelona and England manager, passed away aged 76 following a long battle with lung cancer. Fans, players, pundits and managers have been paying their respect to Robson wit...

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Summer Transfer Watch- Burnley (1)

Burnley may have been the last side into the Premier League but Owen Coyle has wasted no time in beginning to beef up his squad for the challenge ahead. Three new names are on board and clearly they are just the start. Burnleys task is to perform like Hull City rather than Derby County. The Clarets...

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Burnley Gears Up For Wembley And The Premiership

When youve had a less than appealing hour in the dentists chair and the oral hygienist looks at you and says are you going to the game? you know that something big is happening. Its not just the local gents hairdresser whose walls are plastered with the great Burnley sides of the past- nearly all t...

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Championship Play-off Previews - Burnley

Manager: Owen Coyle The Clarets are long overdue a return to the top echelon of English football, having last played at the highest level back in 1976. With just two defeats in their last 17 Championship games, Burnley appear to have hit form at the right time and this, coupled with a couple of ...

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Arsenal's striking return bodes well for top four push

Arsenal beating Burnley 3-0 is not exactly earth shattering, but the return of a number of key players for the match suggests that Arsenal is strengthening the key area of weakness exhibited in recent months - goal scoring. To be fair Arsenal hasn't struggled to score in the FA Cup, beating Plymout...

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Baggies will probably struggle at Burnley

It's not often that a Premier League side is made the outsider in a cup game with a Championship team. But the latest odds in the Burnley / West Brom replay suggests just that. Burnley are 5/4 favourites (with Bet365), with a draw at 9/4 and a West Brom away win at 11/5. Burnley has done well in t...

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Will Roman Pavlyuchenko get motivated by transfer dealings?

Totenham appear close, tonight, to re-signing Jermain Defoe for around £15m. There are other reports linking the club with Defoes Portsmouth strike partner, Peter Crouch. Which leaves the two expensive senior forwards, Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko, in a bit of a sticky situation. Pavlyuchenko ...

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Will Burnley Crack Their Christmas Hoodoo?

Burnley fans must really dread the Christmas period every season. Rather than basking in the glory of a fantastic first four months of the season, a couple of poor festive showings by the clarets has put a question mark against their promotion prospects. Defeats against struggling Barnsley and Donca...

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Plunging Pound Could See Transfer Focus Switch To Football League

With the opening of the January transfer window looming large, speculation is rife as to which big name stars from Europe’s major leagues will be winging their way to the Premiership over the next few weeks. However, with sterling’s collapse against the Euro meaning that transfer fees for players b...

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