Burnley

Stoke v Burnley
Stoke's Ricardo Fuller is set to make his long-awaited debut against fellow Championship side Burnley. Vincent Pericard will be missing for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury while striker Sammy Bangoura may be included after returning to the club. Burnley manager Steve Cotterill has a doubt over Alan Mahon after he came off in the 4-2 win over Barnsley. Goalkeeper Danny Coyne (calf) is still sidelined as he continues his comeback from a serious knee injury.

Stoke 0-1 Burnley
Andy Gray's early strike was enough to send Burnley third in the Championship. The Clarets striker scored after just 35 seconds with an angled shot that went in off the far post after Micah Hyde's initial effort had been blocked. Stoke struggled to get into the game until early after the break when Brian Jensen saved well from Peter Sweeney. At the other end Steve Jones, Mike Duff and Gifton Noel-Williams all had chances and home duo Mamady Sidibe and Carl Hoefkens had late shots blocked. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke manager Tony Pulis on Sam Bangoura's future: \"The transfer window has closed now and people had been blowing in Sam's ear and telling him that this club is coming in and that club. \"I've had a chat with him and he's not going where his agents are telling him he's going. \"He's being paid by this club and we've got two top strikers out so I told him to get his nut down and see what he could do. \"He's trained for five or six weeks now so fitness was never a problem.\" Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: \"Sometimes you think is there a time to score too early and you have to think probably not. \"We had a few other chances and we weren't ruthless enough with those chances but other than that I thought it was a great away performance by us. \"The last five minutes was the only time there was scurrying around our penalty box but I thought we did very well there and won the first ball and second ball on numerous occasions. \"We think we're worth our three points. I thought it was a great three points for us.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke: Simonsen, Higginbotham, Griffin, Hill, Duberry, Sweeney (Hoefkens 63), Brammer, Russell, Chadwick (Rooney 74), Bangoura (Paterson 43), Sidibe. Subs Not Used: Duggan, Pulis. Booked: Griffin. Burnley: Jensen, Harley, McGreal, Thomas, Duff, Jones (Lafferty 90), Hyde, James O'Connor, Elliott (Sinclair 90), Gray, Noel-Williams (McCann 87). Subs Not Used: Spicer, Foster. Booked: Elliott, Harley. Goals: Gray 1. Att: 12,247 Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).

Cotterill cool on West Brom link
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill has cooled speculation linking him with the manager's job at West Bromwich Albion. Cotterill has been linked with the job after former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley ruled himself out. Speaking after his side's 3-2 defeat to Southampton, Cotterill said: \"I've not had any contact with them. \"I don't think my chairman Barry Kilby has had any contact. I haven't got any comment either way. There's nothing to say as I don't know anything about it.\" Cardiff boss Dave Jones is another name in the frame, but the former Southampton and Wolves boss has said he will not answer questions about the vacancy. The Baggies are seeking a new manager after parting company with Bryan Robson on 18 September.

Noel-Williams off transfer list
Burnley striker Gifton Noel-Williams is off the transfer list after regaining favour with manager Steve Cotterill. The 27-year-old was made available in the summer, with a year left on his two-year contract. \"We are more than happy with his performances and that he is staying,\" Cotterill told the club website. \"Hopefully I can stay in the team for as long as possible to show the gaffer, the fans and myself that I deserve to be playing,\" added the player.

Clarets consider Coyne loan move
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill may allow goalkeeper Danny Coyne to leave Turf Moor on loan to regain match fitness. Welsh international Coyne, 33, has been out of first-team action for a year following knee surgery. But the Wales international has fully recovered and Cotterill is considering a loan move after a potential deal fell through earlier this week. Cotterill told his club website: \"A loan would give him first-team action and it might be something I look at.\"

Burnley v Hull
Burnley defender Wayne Thomas misses the match as he serves the second game of a four-match ban. Goalkeeper Danny Coyne is close to a return from a serious knee problem but is unlikely to be on the bench. Hull quartet Damien Delaney, Michael Turner, Sam Ricketts and Stuart Elliott could all return after injury. Defender Sam Collins and midfielder Dave Livermore are also hopeful of playing after injury forced them out of the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Burnley 2-0 Hull
Two early goals from from Michael Duff and Gifton Noel-Williams were enough to give Burnley victory and send Hull to the bottom of the Championship. Northern Ireland defender Duff headed in Wade Elliott's inswinging corner to put Burnley ahead after 10 minutes. Three minutes later, Noel-Williams repeated Duff's feat, heading in another good cross from Elliott. Hull came closest when Jon Parkin fired in a shot which Clarets keeper Brian Jensen tipped round the post. # Burnley manager Steve Cotterill: \"I thought the first half was excellent, we were probably worth more than 2-0. \"In the second half it looked like we didn't want to give anything away and we played like that. \"Two-nil is a precarious scoreline and to be fair to Hull they showed good spirit in the second half - but we were very mindful not to concede a goal and keep a clean sheet.\" # Hull manager Phil Parkinson: \"It's not nice. It's not where we want to be but it's time to batten down the hatches, stick together and come out fighting and we will do that. \"We didn't start the game well enough and before we knew where we were, we were 2-0 down. \"Set plays were disappointing and we have to defend them better then we did.\" Burnley: Jensen, Sinclair, McGreal, Duff, Harley, Elliott (Mahon 84), James O'Connor, Hyde (McCann 90), Jones (Garreth O'Connor 88), Gray, Noel-Williams. Subs Not Used: Lafferty, Foster. Goals: Duff 10, Noel-Williams 13. Hull: Myhill, Thelwell (Coles 45), Turner, Mills, Dawson, Fagan, Ashbee, Marney (Welsh 73), Yeates, Bridges, Parkin (Forster 67). Subs Not Used: Duke, France. Booked: Mills, Coles. Att: 11,530 Ref: A Penn (W Midlands).

Burnley v Southend
Burnley manager Steve Cotterill has reported a clean bill of health for the home clash with Southend. Defender Wayne Thomas serves the third game of a four-match ban but Cotterill has no other problems. Southend striker Lee Bradbury is still a week away from a return so Matt Harrold, Gary Hooper and Billy Paynter will battle for his starting spot. Defender Che Wilson, who has a calf problem, is manager Steve Tilson's only other injury absentee.

Plymouth v Burnley
Plymouth will have Mat Doumbe back after a one-match ban. Argyle also hope Nick Chadwick (groin) will be fit to return as Barry Hayles, who has scored five times this season, is an injury doubt with a groin injury. Burnley have an injury worry over veteran defender John McGreal, who has a twisted knee. Stephen Foster stands by to deputise for him again, while Danny Coyne is available after his cruciate ligament injury but is short of match fitness.

Plymouth 0-0 Burnley
Danish goalkeeper Brian Jensen kept Plymouth at bay to ensure Burnley remain the only Championship side to be unbeaten away from home. Jensen tipped over Tony Capaldi's shot and kept out an Akos Buzsaky volley and a Marcel Saip header in the first half. He had to thwart Buzsaky again but it was the crossbar that rescued him when he was beaten by Barry Hayles' effort. Andy Gray could have pinched it for Burnley but shot wide and was later denied by Argyle keeper Luke McCormick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth boss Ian Holloway: \"We are building something here and although we didn't get the result today, we are progressing. \"It was a strange old game because there was a swirling wind out there. The sides were very evenly matched. \"It was not the prettiest of games, but I was quite pleased with the look of my team,\" he added. Burnley boss Steve Cotterill: \"I thought we might have nicked it at the end but that would not have been a fair result really.\" Cotterill also revealed his concern for striker Gifton Noel-Williams, who limped out of the game after 28 minutes with a groin injury. \"We will know how he is on Monday,\" said Cotterill. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Aljofree, Capaldi, Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Buzsaky, Hayles, Ebanks-Blake (Samba 86). Subs Not Used: Larrieu, Doumbe, Summerfield, Djordjic. Booked: Hayles, Wotton. Burnley: Jensen, Duff, Foster, Sinclair, Harley, Jones, Hyde, James O'Connor, Elliott (Mahon 81), Gray, Noel-Williams (Lafferty 27). Subs Not Used: Branch, McCann, Spicer. Booked: Sinclair, Duff. Att: 12,817 Ref: P Miller (Bedfordshire).

McGreal ruled out until December
Burnley defender John McGreal could be out until December after a scan revealed he tore his medial knee ligament against Southend last week. The 34-year-old twisted his knee on the stroke of half-time in the 0-0 draw and the severity of the injury was confirmed at the weekend. \"John has torn his knee ligament and it is in a brace at the moment,\" manager Steve Cotterill told the club website. \"He will be out of action for approximately six weeks.\"

Burnley 3-2 Preston
A last-gasp strike from Andy Gray gave Burnley victory over Preston in a dramatic Lancashire derby that saw four goals scored in the last 13 minutes. Burnley took the lead when James O'Connor slotted in from the edge of the six-yard area. Simon Whaley equalised with a volley before Brett Ormerod gave Preston the lead firing in past a ruck of players. An own goal from the head of Sean St. Ledger made it 2-2 before Gray settled matters with a deft headed flick.

Luton v Burnley
Luton centre-back Markus Heikkinen will be given until the last minute to recover from the effects of flu and a chest infection. Sam Parkin (ankle) is out, Lewis Emanuel (knee) is almost certain to miss the game while Russell Perrett is also struggling with illness. Burnley's Wayne Thomas (knee) is a doubt after his injury against Preston. Clarets boss Steve Cotterill is definitely without defender John McGreal, who has a knee problem.

Luton 0-2 Burnley
Andy Gray struck a first-half double at Kenilworth Road to give 10-man Burnley their second win in five days. Gray was set up on 30 minutes by Frank Sinclair for his first, and headed home a Wade Elliot cross five minutes later. The Hatters had plenty of possession and saw Burnley's Stephen Foster sent off in the second half, but could not breach a well-drilled Clarets defence. Burnley extended their unbeaten run to six games as Luton failed to bounce back after losing 5-0 at Ipswich. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luton manager Mike Newell \"I don't think we played that badly. \"Our main problem is we are missing five or six people who would normally be first choice and that affects you. \"Burnley came out with no intention of scoring anymore in the second half. We had chances and, on another night, we might have come back into it.\" Burnley boss Steve Cotterill on Andy Gray's goals \"The first was an excellent finish and, by keeping on running, it just goes to show what can open up for you. \"We were wondering whether he would be able to get his leg high enough up to finish it and he managed to do that. \"The second was a proper poachers goal. He peeled away at the far post - it was a great cross and a great finish.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luton: Beresford, Holmes, Barnett, Heikkinen, Morgan (Bell 65), Edwards, Robinson, Langley, Brkovic, Feeney (Boyd 65), Vine. Subs Not Used: Brill, Perrett, O'Leary. Burnley: Jensen, Lafferty, Sinclair, Duff, Harley, Elliott, James O'Connor, Hyde, Foster, Gray, Jones (McCann 75). Subs Not Used: Coyne, Mahon, Branch, Spicer. Sent Off: Foster (73). Booked: Foster, Elliott. Goals: Gray 31, 36. Att: 7,664. Ref: J Singh (Middlesex).

Burnley v Ipswich
Burnley will give a late fitness test to defender Wayne Thomas (knee). Midfielder Garreth O'Connor and striker Gifton Noel-Williams should return after flu but John McGreal (knee) will be out for at least another month. Striker Darryl Knights is included in the Ipswich squad, with Billy Clarke doubtful with a knee injury. If Clarke is ruled out, Gary Roberts or Danny Haynes is likely to partner Alan Lee. Jon Macken and keeper Lewis Price are out while Fabian Wilnis is banned.

View Full Version: Burnley