Home Form Has Been Our Strength
Our Leicester City defeat was a disappointment becoming the Cherries first away defeat at Leicester’s ground in the Premier League. Hopefully we will see an improvement on Saturday when we are back home at Dean Court facing a struggling Burnley side. At home the Cherries have picked up 26 points out of 16 games played, out of a total of 38 points after 32 games. After finishing 7th last season, it has been a poor 2018-19 season for Burnley (the Clarets). At the half way stage of the season Burnley occupied 18th spot in the table, the last relegation spot. They look to be safer now after their home win last weekend against Wolves. This gives them a 5 point gap from Cardiff City who are in the last relegation place with six games to go. Our game on Saturday could be a tricky one against Burnley who will want to pick up more points to keep safely ahead of Cardiff City and guarantee another season in the Premier League.
In the January transfer window Burnley brought in Peter Crouch from Stoke City until the end of the season. As part of that deal, Sam Vokes moved to Stoke City for a fee believed to be £7 million.
When AFCB visited Burnley in September, the Clarets had only 1 point taken from their opening game of the season at Southampton. The game against the Cherries was to be Burnley’s first win of the season, finishing 4-0. They then won their next game away in Wales against Cardiff City 1-2.
October wasn’t a good month for Burnley, they scored 1 and conceded 10 in their three games. They started with a 1-1 draw at home at Turf Moor against Huddersfield. Then they got a thrashing 5-0 away against Manchester City. Back at home Chelsea were the visitors, it finished with another heavy defeat 0-4.
Things didn’t get any better at the start of November with Burnley losing 4-2 at the London Stadium against West Ham, this was 13 goals conceded by Burnley in their last three games. The Clarets then travelled to Leicester, this time there were no goals. Last match of the month was back home against Newcastle United, it was back to losing ways, this time 1-2.
The busy December fixtures of seven games, finished with 2 wins and 5 defeats. First game was in London against Crystal Palace, Palace won 2-0. The next two games were at Turf Moor, first a 1-3 defeat against Liverpool and then a 1-0 win against Brighton. The next two games were away in London and both finished in defeats, 1-0 against Spurs and 3-1 against Arsenal. Back to Turf Moor to face another team from Merseyside, this time Everton who thrashed Burnley 1-5. Last game of the month and year was at home against West Ham, Burnley finished the year with a 2-0 win, but in 18th place, the last relegation spot in the table.
Burnley started off January of the new year without any defeats. Starting with two straight wins, away at Huddersfield Town 1-2, then home against Fulham 2-1. The next game was away at Watford finishing 0-0. Last game of the month was at Old Trafford against Manchester United, it ended 2-2.
February was a mixed month of results for Burnley, starting with a 1-1 draw at home against Southampton. Next game was away to Brighton, it ended in a 1-3 win for Burnley. Back at Turf Moor Spurs were the visitors, the Clarets won 2-1. Last game of February and it was away against Newcastle United, the home side winning 2-0.
March started with two defeats, home to Crystal Palace which finished 1-3 and then away at Anfield against Liverpool, finished 4-2. The last two games of the month were at home, a 1-2 defeat against Leicester City and then a 2-0 win against Wolves.
This could be a tricky game against Burnley who are yet to secure safety for another season
We have played Burnley twice at home in the Premier League. 2016-17 season, AFCB won 2-1. 2017-18 season, AFCB lost 1-2. Away 2016-17, AFCB lost 3-2. 2017-18, AFCB won 1-2. 2018-19, AFCB lost 4-0, Burnley’s highest score so far this season.
In our games against them in the league at Dean Court, AFCB have Won 5, Drawn 4 and Lost 3. In all competitions, AFCB have Won 6, Drawn 11 and Lost 12.
Six Game Form Guide in the Premier League – Starting with latest game first:
AFCB LWLLDL – Burnley WLLLLW
Home Form Table
AFCB – 9th P16 W7 D5 L4 GF28 GA21 Pts26
Away Form Table
Burnley – 15th P16 W3 D4 L9 GF16 GA31 Pts13.
AFCB Team News
Our injury front has improved with the return of Dan Gosling and Junior Stanislas. Steve Cook, Andrew Surman and Adam Smith are still reported to be injured, but as we know one or two could possibly return soon, the answer will be available on Saturday. Also the two long term injured are still out.
AFCB Player To Watch
With a week between the Leicester City game and Burnley this Saturday, it hopefully should see a better performance from our players. The usual suspects will be the ones to watch at home. Wilson, Fraser, Brooks and King. Picking one out, I will go with Callum Wilson.
Burnley Team News
Burnley have two players on the injury list, they are Aaron Lennon with a knee injury and Steven Defour with a calf strain.
Burnley Player To Watch
Dwight McNeil the 19-year-old who seems to have taken his opportunity since he has come into their side. Originally a striker, he now plays on the left side of midfield and seems an all round strong confident young player. Scored 3 goals and has 4 assists in the 14 games he has started. Ashley Barnes is the leading scorer with 9 goals and 2 assists.
