Tom Oldfield


A whole host of ‘experts’ confidently predicted that Burnley would be propping up the Premier League table come May, but their form and fight have given notice that they will not depart England’s top flight easily.

In truth, those who queued up to deride the small Lancashire club should have known better. The Championship playoff final’s 90 minutes should have told the Premier League and seasoned observers all they needed to know about Burnley.

That day, the Clarets had too much character, too much spirit and, just as importantly, too much skill for Sheffield United. And now Owen Coyle’s troops have marched into the Premier League, making waves in the process. Burnley sit comfortably mid-table, and while the performances have been somewhat erratic, the overall omens are good.

Three tireless home victories out of three have announced their arrival in style – and they have already claimed some serious scalps. The 1-0 win over champions Manchester United in their second game may well prove to be the highlight of the Clarets’ season and it was a timely reminder of how much an organised and disciplined side can achieve when playing with additional qualities such as spirit and ambition. If United rocked up at Turf Moor expecting a walkover, it will have been a matter of minutes before the reality of the occasion slapped them in the face. They were stepping onto Burnley’s patch.

Robbie Blake was the match-winner against United but Coyle could point to 11 heroes that night. For promoted clubs, truly believing that they belong on the same pitch as the likes of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard is one of the first steps. And the Clarets certainly have that belief when they are playing in front of home support.

Desperate defending, tireless tracking back and of course a spattering of luck here and there are all equally priceless commodities. And when Burnley took another three points on home soil against David Moyes’ Everton, it became clear that overturning the champions had been no fluke. A third home victory of the campaign – 3-1 against Sunderland – confirmed Turf Moor as a stadium few sides will relish visiting over the months ahead.

But despite this, Coyle has plenty to ponder after six weeks among the big boys. The side’s struggles on the road are a concern while the example of Hull City last season provides a reminder of how fortunes can fluctuate. Like the Tigers, Coyle’s squad have not been overawed by Premier League football and have demonstrated the knack of winning tight games but Hull fell away badly in the second half of the season, only just avoiding relegation.

This all offers pointers for the likes of Burnley. A good start is a bonus but it guarantees absolutely nothing and Coyle must ensure that the Clarets’ strong home form does not go to their heads.

The Premier League newcomers are an interesting group. Much like Ian Ashbee in Hull’s debut season, Graham Alexander – soon to be 38 – provides the experienced anchor in midfield while Brian Jensen, affectionately known as The Beast by the home fans, might not be the trimmest of stoppers but is among the most effective. Just ask Rooney and United. Critically, the all-round work ethic cannot be faulted.

But it would be decidedly harsh to brand Burnley a bunch of hard workers, crawling along through endeavour alone because they can certainly play. And it is their ambitious mindset that has helped them secure maximum points at Turf Moor. Wade Elliott and Martin Paterson provide under-rated attacking thrust while Blake and new face David Nugent, who netted twice against Sunderland, have taken their chances clinically thus far. The moral of the story? Do not write them off before a ball has even been kicked.

Burnley can take further encouragement from their points tally – nine from seven games – considering the opponents that they have already ticked off their fixture list. So far, Coyle’s men have faced United, Chelsea and Liverpool, not to mention Everton and Tottenham. Things could easily have been a lot worse at this stage given the difficulty of their opening six weeks on paper. The path to safety ought to be a little less perilous from here on in.

The one nagging concern for Coyle will be his side’s away form. Just as Burnley have looked invincible at home, they have looked rather feeble on their travels and have taken a couple of hidings already. Suffering 4-0 and 5-0 defeats in consecutive away games – at Liverpool and Tottenham respectively – has exposed defensive frailties and they are yet to score on the road in four attempts. It may be a little early to be drawing conclusions but Coyle must demand improvement.

All this is piling pressure on the home form – and fortunately so far that has not been a problem. But life would become a lot simpler for the Clarets if they could start picking up points from away fixtures. It is worth remembering that trips to Anfield and Stamford Bridge will not shape Burnley’s season – and Coyle surely did not pencil in any points from these games. Perhaps the concern is unnecessary at this point and a truer test will come when they visit Molineux, St Andrews or the KC Stadium.

A lot can happen in eight months but Coyle and his players have adapted relatively well to the Premier League so far. There are plenty of areas that can be improved but so long as Turf Moor continues to be a fortress, Burnley fans will be smiling.

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