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Match preview - Manchester City vs. Burnley - City aim to quash Clarets
Thursday 05 November 2009
Burnley have exceeded expectations this season and find themselves comfortably in mid-table. However, the Clarets away form is greatly at odds with their impressive home showings having yet to pick up a point on the road. They have conceded 21 goals in five away league fixtures this season and scored just two in reply. Similarly, the Clarets have conceded the same number of goals in their last five meetings with Manchester City - the last meeting being a 5-1 thumping in December 2001. Burnley haven’t managed a win at Manchester City since March 1969.
Manchester City - City have few injury problems to hinder them. In recent games they have welcomed back long-term injury concern Michael Johnson, as well as summer signing Roque Santa Cruz. Emmanuel Adebayor will presumably start ahead of the Paraguay international, returning from his suspension. After his penalty save last Sunday against Birmingham, Shay Given will start between the sticks with the returning Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott in central defense. Mark Hughes has opted for Pablo Zabaleta ahead of Micah Richards at right-back in recent games, and Wayne Bridge has been ever-present on the left side of defence. Up front, Adebayor should start with Carlos Tevez behind him, and Craig Bellamy supporting from the left whilst Robinho remains absent with an ankle problem. Nigel De Jong and Gareth Barry make up a solid central midfield with Shaun Wright-Phillips providing further attacking from the right.
1 Given
5 Zabaleta - 19 Lescott - 28 Toure - 3 Bridge
8 Wright-Phillips - 34 De Jong - 18 Barry - 39 Bellamy
25 Adebayor - 32 Tevez
Burnley - In recent weeks, Clarets’ manager Owen Coyle has opted for a 4-2-3-1 system, using Andre Bikey and the veteran Graham Alexander as the two holding midfield players. Steven Fletcher has led from the front, and managed to bag himself his first two Premier League goals in his last three games. He is supported by the impressive Wade Elliott and with Chris McCann and Martin Paterson out - both with knee injuries - the other two attacking midfield roles are likely to be filled by Chris Eagles and Robbie Blake. David Nugent will probably play some part, either up front or in a supporting role. In defense, Steven Caldwell will partner Clarke Carlisle in the centre with Tyrone Mears on the right and Stephen Jordan at left-back. Despite some fairly calamitous recent performances, Brian Jensen should keep his position in goal.
12 Jensen
14 Mears - 5 Carlisle - 6 Caldwell - 23 Jordan
2 Alexander - 21 Bikey
33 Eagles - 11 Elliott - 20 Blake
9 Fletcher
This should, on the face of it, be quite an easy game to predict. With an ambitious Manchester City side desperately needing a win to keep pace with their fellow contenders for Champion’s League places, the Clarets would seemingly be the perfect opponents. Their away form this season has been dismal and without the Turf Moor crowd behind them, they have simply been unable to stop conceding goals. Despite having not won in four games, City remain unbeaten at home. They haven’t exactly been free scoring in the league in recent weeks and they will undoubtedly welcome the return of Adebayor into the starting line-up. Bikey and Alexander will attempt to restrict De Jong and Barry, but it is unlikely they will be able to hold the blue half of Manchester at bay over 90 minutes.
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