Crystal Palace Preview

By Longsider
January 9 2004

Burnley are back in league action tomorrow following our fine victory over Mansfield in the cup. Hopefully the cup win can give our league form the kick start it so desperately needs.

Burnley are currently on a poor run with the last 4 games all resulting in defeats which has left the side 4th from bottom in the 1st division. Teams such as Stoke, Walsall, Gillingham and Palace were all below us a month ago but now there is a danger these sides will pull away if points aren't picked up soon.

Selhurst Park has been a good ground for Burnley since we came back into the division. This will be our 8th visit since promotion and we've only suffered defeat once and that was to tennants Franchise FC in May. We won our first 2 league games against Palace 1-0 and 2-1 and also achieved 2 draws in the Worthington Cup and the league last season.

This game is vital to Burnley as the next couple of games are against 'tougher' opposition but at least we'll have an almost fully fit squad to take to Selhurst.

Alan Moore came through the reserves victory unscathed and will probably be on the bench for the game. Arthur Gnohere returns from suspension with a slight hamstring but should be fit enough to play. Glen Little is also expected to make a return with his hamstring injury not as bad as was first thought.

James McEveley has gone back to Blackburn following his knee injury so his place is up for grabs. I think Stan has three choices he could make with Graham Branch, Arthur Gnohere and Mo Camara all fighting for the berth on the left hand side(assuming Arthur won't take the place of McGregor in the middle).

Crystal Palace are a team in form having won 3 of their last 4 matches. New manager Ian Dowie will be looking for their good run to continue. Palace were thumped in the cup by Spurs so its likely that there will be one or two changes to their side. Michael Hughes is ruled out due to a hamstring as is Aki Riihilahti with the same injury. Shaun Derry will have a late fitness test.

Palace side that lost to Spurs:-

Cedric Berthelin, Kit Symons, Tony Popovic, Danny Butterfield, Julian Gray, Michael Hughes, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Ben Watson, Andy Johnson, Neil Shipperley


Predicted Burnley side:-

Jensen, Roche, Branch, May, McGregor, Weller, Grant, Chaplow, Chadwick, Blake, Moore(I).

Subs:- Moore(A), Little, West, Gnohere, Camara


Referee is Alan Wiley(Staffordshire)