Burnley

Burnley v Southampton
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill is unlikely to make many changes to his side after the 2-0 win over Norwich. John McGreal (calf) and Micah Hyde (knee) are doubtful, while keeper Danny Coyne (knee) and defender Wayne Thomas (foot) are out for the season. Southampton striker Grzegorz Rasiak is doubtful with a pulled buttock muscle. Darren Powell (hamstring and back) misses out, while Matt Oakley and David Prutton (both ankle) are still some way from full fitness.

Burnley 1-1 Southampton
Southampton held on to a point despite Burnley peppering their goal in the second half of their match. The Saints went ahead after 38 seconds when Phil Bardsley turned Alexander Ostlund's cross into his own net. On-loan striker Andy Gray levelled 10 minutes later when he rounded Saints' debutant keeper Kevin Miller before tucking the ball in from an angle. Jon Harley, Chris McCann and James O'Connor all went close for Burnley but Saints secured a crucial point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: "I thought we deserved the three points. "Our second-half performance was very good and their keeper pulled off two excellent saves from Jon Harley and Chris McCann. "I think Alan Mahon's shot, six inches lower, would have beaten any keeper. If Southampton would have scored it would have been on the break." Saints boss George Burley: "Every point is important at this stage," said Burley. "It's very difficult to say but I think you've got to look at 50 points to be safe. There's a lot to play for. "In the first half we played some decent stuff, and I think if we took one of the chances we created we would have gone on to win it." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley: Jensen, Bardsley, Duff, Sinclair, Harley, James O'Connor (Hyde 90), McCann, Mahon, Branch, Gray, Ricketts (Lafferty 74). Subs Not Used: Elliott, Garreth O'Connor, Spicer. Goals: Gray 9. Southampton: Miller, Ostlund (Potter 69), Higginbotham, Lundekvam, Kenton, Brennan, Wright, Chaplow, Baird, Madsen (Jones 69), Rasiak. Subs Not Used: Smith, Blackstock, Dyer. Goals: Bardsley 1 og. Att: 10,636 Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Sheff Wed 0-0 Burnley
Wednesday boosted their bid to avoid the drop with a point, but they will feel they could have had all three. Before a bumper crowd, they had the bulk of possession but could not find the killer touch, Chris Brunt heading an early chance wide from six yards. Marcus Tudgay forced a good save from Brian Jensen, Glenn Whelan had a shot blocked and Brunt was off target again. Burnley improved after the break, Frank Sinclair heading just wide and Scott Carson parrying an Andy Gray drive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheffield Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock: "We were very sluggish and there wasn't the edge that we've shown in the last two or three weeks. "A lot of players were heavy-legged, so we'll have to look at the training from now until the end of the season. "I think a draw was a fair result because Burnley had a couple of clear-cut chances they maybe should have done better with." Burnley boss Steve Cotterill: "The lads who've come in recently like Andy Gray, Phil Bardsley and Alan Mahon have given everyone a lift and there's some healthy competition now. "We had three good headers and Gray also had a good chance. "With four gilt-edged chances like that, we're disappointed to have not taken all three points." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Wed: Carson, Bischoff (Bullen 45), Coughlan, Hills, Simek, Folly, Whelan, O'Brien, Brunt (Best 66), Burton (McGovern 83), Tudgay. Subs Not Used: Adamson, MacLean. Booked: Simek Burnley: Jensen, Sinclair, Duff, Bardsley, Harley, Mahon, James O'Connor, Branch, McCann, Ricketts (Spicer 82), Gray. Subs Not Used: McGreal, Hyde, Elliott, Lafferty. Booked: McCann. Att: 24,485 Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).

Burnley v QPR
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill will be boosted by the availability of defender John McGreal (calf) and midfielder Micah Hyde (knee). Goalkeeper Danny Coyne (knee) and defender Wayne Thomas (foot) are out for the season. QPR will have skipper Kevin Gallen back after a three-game ban while caretaker boss Gary Waddock is contemplating further changes. That could mean starts for youngsters Scott Donnelly and Stefan Bailey.

Burnley 1-0 QPR
Andy Gray scored 11 minutes from time as Burnley earned a victory which saw them move above their opponents in the Championship table. Neither side had particularly looked like creating a chance until Alan Mahon crossed from the right and Gray drilled home with his right foot from 12 yards. Mahon had Burnley's first chance, sending in a left-footed curler which was parried by QPR keeper Paul Jones. For Rangers, Marc Nygaard's second-half shot forced a save from Brian Jensen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley boss Steve Cotterill praised his player Alan Mahon: "He's a very good player, an absolute gem, the jewel in our crown. He will make us play," said Cotterill. Meanwhile, match-winner Andy Gray also thanked his team-mate for his part in the goal. "It's nice to score I've always been confident I can score goals. It was a great ball from Alan. All it had to do was stick it in the back of the net." QPR caretaker boss Gary Waddock paid tribute to Andy Gray: "He's a goalscorer of Premiership quality who sticks the ball into the back of the net," said Waddock. "He has been there and seen it and done it and today he had an opportunity to finish and he took it - that is quality finishing from him. "I was disappointed with the result but pleased with the attitude of the players at Burnley." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley: Jensen, Bardsley, Sinclair, Duff, Harley, Branch (Hyde 65), James O'Connor, McCann (McGreal 87), Mahon, Ricketts (Elliott 55), Gray. Subs Not Used: Garreth O'Connor, Spicer. Goals: Gray 79. QPR: Jones, Kus (Lomas 66), Shittu, Evatt, Milanese, Ainsworth, Langley, Bircham (Donnelly 86), Cook, Nygaard, Baidoo. Subs Not Used: Cole, Furlong, Howell. Att: 11,247. Ref: R Oliver (W Midlands).

Hull 0-0 Burnley
Neither side was able to ignite the game at the KC Stadium as Hull and Burnley had to settle for a draw. Both sides had opportunities but were unable to convert them in a match where defences were comfortably on top. Burnley's Andy Gray went close but fired wide early on and Kyle Lafferty was denied by a good save from Boaz Myhill in the second half. Ryan France's shot for Hull was saved by Brian Jensen and the Burnley keeper also denied Kevin Ellison. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hull manager Peter Taylor: "We're guaranteed to be staying up so I'm delighted with that. "But it was a very disappointing game and if I'd have paid to get in I would not have been very happy. "I didn't think we tried to play enough football and we sometimes tried to take liberties with John Parkin up front by trying to play to him too much." Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: "We've now conceded one goal in five games, so it's good that we're back to keeping clean sheets. "But we have tried to be better offensively. Kyle well in lots of areas and he had a good chance. "Maybe with a few more games under his belt he'd have put the ball home. Chris McCann and Kyle are both from the youth team. This is just the start for them." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hull: Myhill, Thelwell, Cort, Delaney, Dawson, France (Paynter 81), Green, Andrews, Ellison (Elliott 81), Parkin, Duffy (Fagan 81). Subs Not Used: Duke, Wiseman. Burnley: Jensen, Bardsley (McGreal 39), Sinclair, Duff, Harley, Mahon, James O'Connor, McCann, Branch, Lafferty (Spicer 83), Gray. Subs Not Used: Hyde, Elliott, Garreth O'Connor. Booked: Branch, McCann, Sinclair, James O'Connor. Att: 19,926 Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Millwall v Burnley
Managerless Millwall are without Alan Dunne as he has a fractured cheekbone and skipper David Livermore needs an operation on his injured foot. Jody Morris, Josh Simpson and Barry Hayles are all unlikely to play again this term due to knee injuries. Burnley boss Steve Cotterill has doubts over Chris McCann (hamstring) and Michael Ricketts (ankle), while Phil Bardsley has sustained an ankle injury. Danny Coyne (knee) and Wayne Thomas (foot) are both out for the season.

Millwall 1-0 Burnley
Marvin Williams took advantage of James O'Connor's error just before half-time to give relegated Millwall victory. O'Connor's header failed to reach keeper Brian Jensen and Williams lofted the ball into the net. A small crowd inside the New Den made for an end-of-season feel and the match lacked any real inspiration. Michael Duff squandered a chance to equalise for Burnley in the dying seconds when he sent a close range header into the arms of Colin Doyle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Millwall joint caretaker boss Alan McLeary: "I'm thrilled with the win to get the club off the bottom, but the performance was excellent as well. "The lads that we picked are the future of this club and they have lifted the spirits of the supporters. "We needed to lift the crowd after the week we've just had and we certainly did that." Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: "I was looking for a performance and I got nothing. "It took us seven hours to get here on Friday and by the look of us it was going to take seven hours to get going. "The players have got two player-of-the-year awards nights this week and they will be embarrassed to walk in after that." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Millwall: Doyle, Phillips, Paul Robinson, Whitbread (Pooley 60), Craig, Cogan, Elliott, Hendry, Williams (Trevor Robinson 90), May, Powel (Fangueiro 81). Subs Not Used: Weston, Brooks. Booked: Williams. Goals: Williams 45. Burnley: Jensen, Duff, McGreal (Spicer 38), Sinclair, Harley, Mahon, James O'Connor, Hyde, Branch, Ricketts (Elliott 63), Gray. Subs Not Used: Karbassiyoon, Garreth O'Connor, Lafferty. Booked: Branch, Spicer. Att: 7,780. Ref: C Penton (Sussex).

Clarets continue pre-season plans
Burnley are to spend a week this summer in Italy as part of their preparations for next season. The Clarets will be based at a training camp on a picturesque resort of Lake Garda, near the town of Bardolino, from 23-29 July. Burnley are in the process of arranging a number of friendlies to be played during the trip. Manager Steve Cotterill has previously taken his squad to Austria for pre-season trips.

Branch signs new Clarets contract
Long-serving Burnley midfielder Graham Branch has signed a new 12-month contract at Turf Moor. "I am looking forward to it. The legs might not be what they were ten years ago, but I still feel that I have something to offer," said Branch. "My form has been good this season. I think next year will be a good one for the team." Branch, 34, joined Burnley from Stockport in January, 1999 and has made almost 300 appearances for the club.

Burnley v Luton
Burnley have injury doubts over defender Phil Bardsley and midfielder Chris McCann, who missed the defeat at Millwall with a hamstring injury. Clarets boss Steve Cotterill is also without defender Wayne Thomas (foot) and keeper Danny Coyne (knee). Luton skipper Kevin Nicholls could make his first start since injuring knee ligaments in March. Kevin Foley has shaken off a knock, but Russ Perrett, Chris Coyne and Markus Heikkinen are all ruled out.

Burnley 1-1 Luton
Burnley's teenage striker Kyle Lafferty celebrated earning a 12-month contract extension by scoring the goal which earned the Clarets a point. Luton led on 42 minutes when skipper Kevin Nicholls found Rowan Vine, who beat Brian Jensen with a drilled shot. But Lafferty, 18, who signed his new deal on Friday, rifled home from 12 yards after Garreth O'Connor's pass with 12 minutes of the game remaining. The Clarets nearly won late on, but O'Connor's shot drifted just wide. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: "I can't celebrate being 17th. I'm not happy with that and am disappointed where we have finished. "That wasn't an end-of-season game, both teams tried desperately hard to win it. I am disappointed we haven't won as we created enough chances. "It says it all that their keeper Marlon Beresford was man-of-the-match." Luton manager Mike Newell: "Our goalkeeper Marlon Beresford kept us in it in the second half. "We played some decent stuff in the first half and scored a very good goal but second half we could not keep the goal and they put us under pressure. "We got a point away from home which we have not done too often recently - so we have to be happy." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley: Jensen, Spicer, Sinclair, Duff, Harley, James O'Connor, McCann, Branch (Garreth O'Connor 77), Mahon (Elliott 90), Gray, Lafferty (Ricketts 87). Subs Not Used: Karbassiyoon, Hyde. Goals: Lafferty 78. Luton: Beresford, Foley, Keane, Barnett, Morgan (Stevens 75), Nicholls (Holmes 75), Brkovic (Bell 87), Feeney, Showunmi, Vine, Howard. Subs Not Used: Brill, Andrew. Booked: Brkovic, Barnett. Goals: Vine 42. Att: 12,473. Ref: R Booth (Nottinghamshire). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Play-off semi-final dates: First legs Leeds v Preston (Elland Road, Friday, 5 May, 1945 BST) Crystal Palace v Watford (Selhurst Park, Saturday, 6 May, 1215 BST) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second legs Preston v Leeds (Deepdale, Monday, 8 May, 1945 BST) Watford v Crystal Palace (Vicarage Road, Tuesday 9 May, 1945 BST) Play-off dates for other divisions to be confirmed

Burnley land Crewe striker Jones
Burnley have clinched the signing of Crewe Alexandra striker Steve Jones. The Northern Ireland international, 29, has agreed a three-year contract at Turf Moor after reaching the end of his current deal at Crewe. "We are delighted to have agreed a deal for Steve, who I think will be one of the best Bosman signings of the summer," boss Steve Cotterill said. "He is a great lad who possesses great pace and I feel we could have done with that this season."

Sunderland release skipper Breen
Sunderland have released skipper Gary Breen following their relegation. The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland international has been told he will not be offered a new deal when his current contract expires in the summer. Sunderland have offered new deals to Grant Leadbitter and Dan Smith, and exercised the year's option on striker Kevin Kyle's contract. A permanent move to Burnley has also been agreed for striker Andy Gray, who ended the season on loan at Turf Moor. Breen joined Sunderland on a free transfer from West Ham in August 2003, making 105 League appearances for the Black Cats. Before his year at West Ham, Breen spent five years at Coventry. His previous clubs also include Birmingham, Peterborough and Gillingham. Breen won 62 international caps for Ireland and played in the 2002 World Cup finals.

Foster agrees to Burnley switch
Crewe defender Stephen Foster has agreed to join Burnley, after rejecting a contract offer from the Railwaymen. Foster is expected to sign a two-year contract at Turf Moor. The 25-year-old, who was also being pursued by Barnsley,started 200 league games for the Gresty Road club after signing in 1998. \"He's a proven defender and a good lad with excellent character,\" said Clarets boss Steve Cotterill. \"I think he will do well for us.\"

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