Rotherham Preview

By Longsider
November 21 2003

The Clarets will be looking to end the current run which has seen the side win just once in the last 8 games. The game also sees the introduction of the new anthem that has been adopted by Burnley with the family crowd in mind.

After back to back defeats away from Home its back to the Turf this Saturday for a vital clash against Rotherham. The clash has become vital due the poor run the Clarets are currently on and Dean West described this game, earlier this week, as a must win game.

Burnley haven't won a game since beating Walsall at the start of October and desperately need the points to put some daylight between us and the those teams in the relegation zone.

The game is also the first of the 'Walk up for Burnley' campaign that is being run by the club with various discounts on offer to both season ticket holders and walk on fans. The club are expecting an extra 2,000 people to turn up tomorrow although i think they will be privately disappointed that more people did not take up the offer of £20 for 2 Adults and 2 Kids ticket.

The game will also see the introduction of the new Burnley anthem......a remake of the classic 80's hit by the Proclaimers, I'm gonna be(500 miles). It will be interesting to see how the crowd react to the anthem as the club have gone out on a limb to publicise it.

Rotherham at the Turf hasn't always provided happy scorlines for Burnley fans. Its nearly 6 years to the day since the Millers thumped Burnley 3-0 in an FA Cup replay, that was televised on SKY, however our next two home games against them ended in comfortable victories(2-0, 3-0). Most people will remember last seasons game but for the wrong reasons.....we were hammered 6-2. The defeat came just weeks after we let 6 in at Grimsby and was only the beginning of more bad results to come at the Turf.

Whilst confidence is low on the pitch, at least off the pitch, things are starting to look better with the injury list looking healthier all the time. Delroy Facey and Luke Chadwick both missed the Derby game but are expected to have late fitness tests and they are closer to playing than last week. Paul Weller is back in training but is still a few games away whilst Alan Moore is still out injured.

The visitors have been hit badly with injuries and suspensions playing a major part in their team selection tomorrow. Rob Scott, Julien Baudet, Nicky Daws and Darren Garner are all out injured with Mike Pollitt, Stewart Talbot and Guy Branston all suspended for the game. Former West Ham defender Scott Minto may play after recovering from injury.

With Gareth Farrelly back at Bolton, one change is certain, with Graham Branch probably favourite to take the left hand side berth although it would be nice to see Matty O'Neill given a run out.

I expect the Clarets to line up:

Jenson, West, Camara, May, Gnohere, Litte, Chaplow, Grant, Branch, Blake, Moore.

Subs: Facey, Chadwick, O'Neill, Roche, McGregor.

The referee for the game will be Ray Olivier from the West Midlands