Can Eddie improve his record against Sean Dyche?

Eddie Howe has lost the last two matches against Sean Dyche's Burnley and since 2016, when both teams have been in the Premier League, the Cherries have only won two of the six games with Burnley winning four. The chances of a draw them may seem remote this weekend.

Will Eddie walk off of Dean Court with another three points this weekend? 

Burnley's current away record had been quite woeful with just the one away win at bottom of the table Watford in November. But it was a comfortable 0-3 win at Vicarage Road on 23 November with both Wood and Barnes scoring and Tarkowski adding the third. Dyche might have though his players had turned the corner then having previously only gaining draws in away games at Wolves, Bright and Aston Villa.

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However, Spurs soon put Burnley back in their place with a 5-0 home win against the Lancashire team. So Dyche is back to square one in working out how to get his players doing better in away fixtures. Dyche has blamed his players of giving the ball away too cheaply and getting punished for it. He might feel that Bournemouth are less adept at dishing out the punishment, but the first goal is probably going to decide this game
.

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Wood and Rodriguez started Burnley's last away game, so Dyche is happy to play two up front away from home. Burnley have a better goals for record than Bournemouth having netted 22 times this season and their forwards are getting the goals - Chris Wood is on seven and Ashley Barnes on five. Jay Rodriguez also has two goals. Many of these goals have been aerial and in and around the six yard box - that is where Burnley are so effective.

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Bournemouth will have to defend exceptionally well at corners and work to win battles before they can impose themselves on this Burnley team. Burnley will be happy for it to be a scrappy game and will disrupt any flow of the game when they can. Deal with those kind of problems and Eddie Howe might just improve his record against Sean Dyche who is looking for a hat-trick of wins in a row against Bournemouth. Last season scored seven goals to Bournemouth's one in the two fixtures and its a game that Bournemouth have never managed to get a clean sheet in since their Premier League existence began.

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Burnley Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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Burnley will be a test for Bournemouth's central defenders

Simon Francis and Chris Mepham did well against Chelsea. They'll have a different test this weekend with Chris Woods and probably Jay Rodriguez lining up against them. Rodriguez has ripped AFCB apart before and Eddie Howe knows exactly how good he is having managed him at Burnley.

Simon Francis will look to have another impressive game this weekend.

The aerial battle is the first thing that should be on Francis and Mepham's minds. They have to win the headers and look for midfielders quickly when they have the ball. The ling ball should be something they are well practised at after the last few weeks, but you can bet Burnley will try the ball over the top. Ashley Barnes is probably Burnley's best striker at getting on the end of those passes, but he has had a groin injury. But who knows who Dyche will start with for sure?

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Chris Mepham did well enough against Chelsea to be enlisted in Alan Shearer's team of the week along with Jefferson Lerma. He played simple passes and made some great clearances, but I was probably more impressed with Simon Francis who had had a shocker a few weeks before against Wolves. He seemed more controlled and sure of himself fitting in at centre-back at Chelsea. Eddie Howe has faith in Mepham and Francis and with one clean sheet behind them already, he could have a new pairing on his hands that just happen to work well together than when they are individually paired with other Bournemouth centre-backs.

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While Steve Cook is trying to see if he might be able to play with a wrist cast, Eddie should be impressed enough to keep with Francis and Mepham while they are doing a good job. The cover for the centre-back position is stretched with just Jack Simpson likely to be on the bench if Steve Cook isn't able to play yet. But I think Mepham and Francis may get the Christmas games now and they'll probably prefer playing Burnley to seeing what they face on Boxing Day with Lacazette and Aubameyang. Luckily they'll have a bit more time to prepare for the that fixture.

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Bournemouth get it all wrong against Burnley 1-3

Match Report

AFCB 1 v 3 Burnley

6 April 2019

Attendance: 10,446

AFCB welcome Burnley.

Eddie Howe expected a performance at home to the fourth bottom team. A full crowd anticipated much the same and in the first few minutes an own goal by Ashley Barnes set Bournemouth on their way. However, a two minute meltdown saw Begovic flap and miss a corner cross for Chris Woods to score, before a poor clearance fell to Ashley Westwood who made it 1-2 to the visitors. Burnley didn't need any help in getting the advantage by holding down Wilson, and using force to bully AFCB off the ball, but their third goal looked like it should have been ruled out with the ball seemingly running out of play on the left, but it was actually still in play - having seen action replays, before Barnes beat Begovic. With another dismal performance and the home crowd leaving before the final whistle, AFCB have to find something to finish the season with a bit of pride. This was shambolic.

Eddie Howe just made one change with Adam Smith replacing Charlie Daniels at left back and my hope that Boruc would return to the starting line up were not realised.

AFCB and Burnley before the switch of ends.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery.

Burnley switched ends at the toss which automatically got AFCB fans disgruntled. Their white shirts kept a high line which I thought might be profitable for Wilson, if he could be sharp on his toes.

Fraser had an early chance to put a free kick in the Burnley box. Lerma bent back to reach the cross and head it forward, and while Aké looked to get on the end of it, Ashley Barnes tried to fend Aké off only to head it into his own goal. Bournemouth were 1-0 up on four minutes.

Bournemouth had the game and forced a corner, before Fraser had a low shot saved by Heaton. Wilson was tackling back and put a great challenge in on Westwood.

Burnley's tactic was to put as many crosses into AFCB's box as they could. Clyne was working hard to stop McNeil on the wing and Lerma was starting to play well in midfield.

Fraser had a strong cross field run before passing to Brooks, who beat his man and got to the byline, but his pull back went to a Burnley defender.

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King and Wilson were combining well, although Tarkowski was handling Wilson well enough. An attempted bicycle kick by a Burnley forward was just blocked in time, but it led to a corner. Burnley piled men in the box and Begovic hardly got off the ground leaving Chris woods with a simple header at the far post to make it 1-1 on 18 minutes.

While that was disappointing, McNeil got behind the defence and after a poor clearance from Mepham saw the ball come out to Ashley Westwood, who drilled Burnley 1-2 in front on 20 minutes.

Bournemouth had capitulated. It could have been a situation that was quickly rescued when Fraser and King broke. King got the ball out to Brooks, and he measured his cross for Wilson to run on to, but the header went over from about four yards out!

King and Wilson continued to make breaks but kept overrunning passes. King got Wilson in with his back to goal, but the Bournemouth forward couldn't get a shot off.

Jeff Hendrick was carded for a foul on Adam Smith and Burnley were using their physicality to keep Bournemouth pinned down. A free kick saw Aké and Mepham run int the box and both went down claiming a penalty, which referee Martin Atkinson waved away.

Burnley could have gone further ahead when Ashley Barnes was in a on-on-one race with Begovic. The keeper just go to the ball on the edge of the box first, but Barnes followed through and was only yellow carded.

Meanwhile, Ben Mee was holding Wilson down when goal kicks came their way and getting away with it. Brooks almost got a cross in that AFCB players were lining up to get on the end of, but King touched it on when Fraser was waiting to hit the shot and the chance went begging. King went down in the confusion again asking for a penalty.

Two minutes of added time saw a fouled by Westwood on Gosling but the score remained 1-2 at half-time.

The Cherries are behind at half-time.

Second half
Bournemouth took Nathaniel Clyne of at half-time and replaced him with Diego Rico at left back, allowing Adam Smith to switch to the right. An early chance saw a chance fall to Barnes, but it was deflected wide of the AFCB's left post.

A couple of corners ended with a free kick to Begovic. While Bournemouth regained some control and won a corner, Brooks beat McNeil only to run the ball out of play.

King was making runs but finding his shots getting blocked.

Burnley were playing a waiting game and looking to get Woods away when he was caught offside and missed his finish anyway.

The home crowd were getting more angry at their players now as Gosling slipped and almost let Burnley in for another chance. Mepham almost compounded things with a mis-timed clearance off his standing leg.

Things got even more annoying for home supporters when Burnley looked to have run the ball out of play on the left side, but continued to play on and Ashley Barnes smashed his shot past Begovic to make it 1-3. on 56 minutes.

Bournemouth subbed Gosling who was having a shocker with Solanke on 59 minutes. Begovic had to make a save to ironic cheers after McNeil had shot well. 

Hendrick then miss-timed a challenge on Rico, but was not carded. Woods had a snap shot loop up over the bar then on 67 minutes.

Eddie Howe surprised everyone by taking off Lerma on 70 minutes and putting on Stanislas in central midfield. King was already playing on the wing with Wilson and Solanke up front and Brooks filling in central midfield.

A free kick from Fraser was glanced by Mepham but wide of the goal. King came close to scoring but had his shot saved by Heaton.

A foul on Solanke saw Ben Mee booked on 78 minutes. Stanislas free kick went straight into the wall.

Burnley subbed Hendrick for Berg Gudmundsson on 83 minutes. Bournemouth were now imploding. Stanislas gave the ball away in the middle.

Solanke almost got one back with a header well pushed out by Heaton, before Fraser had his follow up saved.

Four minutes of added time led to a Bournemouth corner, but King's shot was blocked. Fraser made a chance for Wilson who put it over! The last minute saw Adam Smith get into a frenzy with a tackle on the edge of the Burnley box. He was carded more out of frustration rather than anything else, as he let off steam.

A bad defeat for the Cherries.

Summary

Where to start? This was probably the worst home performance of the season. A goal up should have breathed confidence into the side. Instead, Bournemouth collapsed under the physical strength of Burnley. They didn't deal with corners and crosses and the marking was poor and disorganised. Once they fell behind, the play became more frantic from the Bournemouth players. They lost they cool and tried to get back at the niggling game that Burnley were playing. Burnley simply upset AFCB's game and Bournemouth didn't find any flow to their play. They were roughed up and the game really died when the officials made a complete mess of the decision for allowing Burnley's third goal to stand. Where do Bournemouth go from here? This was embarrassing, but the players need to feel that it was embarrassing if they are to dig themselves out of the hole that they are now making for themselves.

AFCB player ratings:

Begovic 3 - he panics, makes poor decisions when playing out for the back and flaps at crosses.

Clyne 4 - out classed by McNeil who beat him all ends up. Bet he was glad to get off at half-time

Mepham 5 - still finding his feet. Tried his best.

Aké 5 - did okay, but he is not a leader yet and AFCB need him to be when others go missing.

Adam Smith 5 - just back from injury, lost his cool at the end which is good in away because he cares.

Brooks 5 - better than last week, but didn't find his finishing accuracy

Lerma 7 - easily AFCB's best player on the day. The one rudder that AFCB's ship had.

Gosling 3 - just nothing went right for him. A shadow of what he can produce.

Fraser 4 - plenty of running, but no substance or end product

King 3 - no touch and little control

Wilson 4 - needs to take his big moments on a more regular basis.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Rico, Simpson, Ibe, Stanislas, Mousset, Solanke

Ref Watch: Martin Atkinson 3/10 He didn't see the tricks Burnley's players were carrying out with arms all over Wilson and some poor challenges. 

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Jefferson Lerma

Burnley

1 Heaton, 2 Lowton, 5 Tarkowsk, Mee Booked, 3Taylor, 13 Hendrick Booked (Berg Gudmundsson)

18 Westwood, 4Cork, 31McNeil, 11Wood, 10Barnes Booked

Burnley Subs

20 Hart, 7 Berg Gudmundsson, 12 Brady, 14 Gibson, 23 Ward, 27 Vydra, 28 Long.

Burnley can't afford a slip up at Bournemouth

While AFCB have been sitting mid-table for a while, Burnley have not had that luxury. They have lost their last two away games but one of those was against Liverpool when they scored two goals. While Burnley have a six pointer coming up against Cardiff, their remaining games this month are against Chelsea and Man City.

Can the Cherries come out on top against Burnley?

That puts into perspective what a big match the Bournemouth game is for Burnley. While Bournemouth just need the one win to break the 40-point mark, it seems the hardest thing to be able to achieve. Even though Bournemouth's home record is not too bad, Eddie Howe knows his side hasn't win at home since the 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea back in January.

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Bournemouth know what to expect from Burnley. They will get the ball up to Chris Woods  and look to feed off anything in and around AFCB's box. It doesn't make Burnley easy to play against though. Dyche will drill his team to keep their shape and they may only get a couple of chances to score but if they take those chances, it will be like trying to knock a wall down for AFCB to get back into the match.

Bournemouth need one of their more explosive starts. They have to be ready to take the game to Burnley and let them fear about losing the game. If they can pile on the pressure and get Burnley thinking negatively, it will be a tense game for the Burnley players. Bournemouth have been a soft touch of late, but they have to play with real intent in this game, because time is running out to book a top 10 place this season.

AFCB Home Form
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Burnley Away Form
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What's wrong with Burnley?

In the early part of the season, it was easy for Sean Dyche to say the Europa league had been difficult to get used to and the Thursday/Sunday routine. Before the international break the Claret's manager said the players looked 'fatigued'. But playing against Wolves last weekend, he couldn't really find a palatable excuse in a game where they hardly threatened to score.

Will Bournemouth walk off happy against Burnley?

Dyche has pointed to the amount of turnovers in their games and 'a fog' descending on his team. The team is not balanced and while they have a couple of players to come back from injuries, Burnley look there for the taking at the moment.

Joe Hart has looked their best player and he hasn't done too much wrong. But Burnley are leaking goals with 10 against, so far this season. The fixtures they have had in the Premier League would suggest that they have been really struggling, losing to two newly-promoted clubs – Fulham and Wolves away from home. They have gained a point away at Southampton, but Watford and Man United were too strong for them at home. The goal difference of -7 is only better than Huddersfield and only three other teams have a higher total than 10 goals conceded, which is what Burnley have. Their problems though are not just at one end. Burnley have scored just three goals in their five matches. Only Huddersfield have scored fewer goals and Cardiff are the only other team scoring as few as three goals.

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Putting those kind of problems right quickly is a challenge. Sean Dyche will be looking for a reaction, and if they can't get points at home it is looking like a long season for Burnley. The pressure is on Burnley just for propping up the league.

They have players coming back from injury such as midfielder Steven Defour, but Dyche needs his strikers to start scoring and, so far, he has only given two games to Matej Vydra, who was signed in the summer from Derby. Chris Woods has had four starts, Sam Vokes has just had one start, as has Ashley Barnes, but they have featured in the five games. He needs one of the strikes to hit form. Two of Burnley's three goals have come from James Tarkowski with Jeff Hendrick scoring the other goal. So it's a blank for the forwards.

Bournemouth will be hoping that record doesn't improve.

Burnley Home form
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AFCB Away form
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Rival Lines with Up the Clarets

AFCB can play with freedom up at Burnley

Bournemouth can go into the game with Burnley just playing for pride and while that could be beneficial, it could also be a recipe for trouble. Bournemouth tend to be anxious when they have a lot of pressure on the result and it is not often that we see them safe early and playing with freedom, but the party atmosphere at Turf Moor could encourage them to have some fun in trying to upset the odds.

Defoe and Pugh may be hoping for an appearance at Turf Moor.

Burnley will rightly be favourites for this game even if they were turned over 5-0 in their last game against Arsenal. Sean Dyche did not seem to concerned with that result, but he won't want the season to fall flat after the marvellous results they have been getting all season long. It is a long way for AFCB players to have to travel and they have themselves been able to celebrate this week after finishing their campaign safely, and this game may well feel like an unnecessary match which simply has to be played.

AFCB's attitude will be the decisive element I feel in this game. If they want to give it everything we could have a cracker of a game, but f they are thinking of the beach it could be a cake walk for Burnley. AFCB's away form has been indifferent and without a big travelling away fan they will feel like it is 11 players taking on quite an army at Burnley. But this has often worked in AFCB's favour to feel like the big underdog.

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Eddie Howe can almost have a couple of days off, but he won't be happy of the Cherries roll over easy at Turf Moor. He has to use his powers of persuasion to get the players in the right frame of mind for one last hard test. It is probably a more difficult game in that respect ion any that AFCB have had in the last month. If Eddie can make the result matter to the players though he will get a performance. UTCIAD!

Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Mings, B Smith, Gosling, Pugh, Mousset, Defoe

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Bournemouth have to step it up against Burnley

The way Burnley are going about their matches they will not be easily put off their task when they come to Dean Court. While they lost their last game to a late minute penalty against Arsenal, AFCB have to be watchful they don't find Burnley taking out all their anger on them.

Burnley are capable of crashing into the top six.

Burnley must be delighted with their start and I don't see it as a fluke. Sean Dyche drills his team and has bought well in the summer. They might not be all household names, but they are a team and that counts for a lot. Some might have felt that the departure of Andre Gray to Watford could see them struggle for goals, but it's been anything but that. Okay, they are not scoring three or four every games, but Burnley are a team that create a good few chances every game and we know that Sam Vokes will be desperate to win his place back n the side for this one against Bournemouth. Sean Dyche has also been impressed with Stephen Ward and will soon see the return of Jonathan Walters - even if not for this game.

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Bournemouth have to find something extra for Dyche's men. Their stock is rising all the time and in Hendrick and Brady they have players that find gaps and create problems so it's not just the strikers that will worry Bournemouth. Furthermore, if Bournemouth do find they can expose the Burnley defence they still have Nick Pope to beat who has been in sensational form.

I think there is something that Eddie will say though to get Bournemouth fully focussed on this game. There are games in the season that you just don't want to lose and AFCB have two of them coming up. If there is a time to peak it is now. Burnley will be walking tall and expecting to put Bournemouth down, but AFCB have to raise their game and battle harder than ever if they are to  come out on top in this one.

A special good luck to Harry Arter tonight if he is selected for his 250th AFCB game. UTCIAD!

Burnley Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
LWDLW

The Cherries head to fortress Turf Moor

Burnley have been quite a different proposition at home to what they have been on the road. While AFCB have found it hard to win away games, if  you take away the Clarets home points and they would have just one point this season. So is this a nailed on home win?

The fans going into the home end at Turf Moor would certainly think so, but AFCB have been improving in their away games with a win against Stoke and a decent, but ultimately points-free outing against Arsenal in their last two away games. You have to go back to 5 November though to see when Burnley last picked up points in that cracking game they had against Crystal Palace and  a 90+4 minute winner from Ashley Barnes. Just like AFCB, Burnley run teams right to the end of games and this will be a battle of fitness and energy as much as any game AFCB play this season. I found it very interesting to hear what Sean Dyche said at the start of the season that AFCB had shown teams how to stay up in the Premier League last season and the energy and athletic fitness of Burnley is excellent, just as it is with Eddie Howe's side.

Simon Francis is keen to see an AFCB back-to-back win.

AFCB will know that having the possession against Burnley will not guarantee a result. Palace had 62 per cent possession when they played at Turf Moor and when the Clarets beat Liverpool they did that with just 20 per cent of the possession. So while AFCB may have much of the ball, they will have to show a sharpness in front of goal that is better than what we have seen on the road from them. Watford away was the only game when AFCB have managed to get above one goal in an away game, and that may not be enough against a Burnley side that are not unaccustomed to scoring two or three goals at home. 

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The striking power of Burnley is something that the pundits have not talked about too much. André Gray was unstoppable in the Championship last year and they have a master at headed finishing in Sam Vokes, while Ashley Barnes can also hit a rasping shot. Sean Dyche only played Vokes at the start up front against Man City and Palace in their last two home games and he may well stick to the same game plan against AFCB. Burnley are also powerful in midfield with Hendrick, Boyd and Arfield and their Icelandic signing Johann Berg Gudmundsson. 

While Burnley have spread their goals about throughout the team, they are only above Hull City in the goal scoring charts. But 11 of their 12 goals have come at Turf Moor and AFCB's defence will have a job to keep a clean sheet against a side that knows it's home games are key to staying up. It is going to be a very different test to the Liverpool examination, but AFCB can come through it if they can stop Burnley from getting a good early start in the game. 

Burnley Home Form
WLWWL


AFCB Away Form
LDLWL

Probable AFCB team: Boruc (GK), A Smith (RD), Francis (CD), S Cook (CD), Aké (LD), Fraser (RM), Arter (CM), Gosling (CM), Ibe (LM), Wilshere (FW), C Wilson (FW)

Bench: Federici, Mings, Daniels, Pugh, King, Afobe, Mousset

Rival Lines: Burnley have played best against top sides, says No Nay Never

Rival Lines
Burnley v AFCB
10 November 2016
Podcaster Interview: No Nay Never
Twitter: @NoNayNever

It's time to catch up with Burnley FC supporters ahead of our game at the weekend and who better to ask about what is happening at the clarets than our old friend Jamie, at the excellent No Nay Never podcast. There is an up to date episode on the No Nay Never podcast that talks about the Bournemouth game so do have a listen. But in the meantime, here are the questions I put to Jamie and his responses.

CC: Have you seen much difference in the side to how it went about games in the Championship?

NNN: The approach is fairly similar I think - we're trying to sit tight in most games and nick a goal somehow. But obviously the quality of opposition is a lot higher, so our defence isn't as strong and our attack isn't as effective. We need to be more flexible.

CC: Is it all about home form for Burnley or have you got the players and know how to get away wins in the Premier League?

NNN: It is so far! But we can't assume that we'll get 35 points or so from home games, which looks like what we'll need if we're to stay up. At the moment it looks like a different team away from home - there's no confidence and as soon as we go behind heads start dropping, the belief just isn't there. It seems to be a mental problem as much as a team selection or tactics issue right now.

CC: Have you been surprised to get good results against Liverpool, Everton and Man Utd?

NNN: Yes and no - we got results against top sides at home in our two previous Premier League seasons. United looks a bit like a fluke now - Tom Heaton had the game of his life and they missed a lot of good chances - but against Everton and Liverpool we played really well. In fact we've played better against good sides than mediocre ones so far this season.

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CC: Should Sean Dyche invest in another striker in January?

NNN: Goals are always key so it wouldn't hurt, but I really believe Andre Gray will score goals in the Premier League. For me, it's the supply line that isn't working well enough, not the personnel up front. Sam Vokes is on track to get double figures if he keeps up his form and Gray should be targeting the same. Jordan Rhodes has been linked in the press but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me - he's a one-dimensional player and Gray is better anyway.

CC: What have you made of Berg Gudmundsson?

NNN: I really like him. He had a pretty slow start but that was understandable as he was adapting to a higher league. But he's got a bit of everything. He's direct and a real threat, but also does all the defensive work we need from our wingers. It's a shame we don't have another like him for the other wing and we really missed him at Stoke - hopefully he'll be fit for Saturday but it looks unlikely.

CC: Which player is the one you can't afford to see leave the club in January?

NNN: Michael Keane is a key man and we're likely to have a lot of interest in him. But the club has already made it clear he is not for sale and Keane doesn't seem like the type of player to force a move, so I think we'll probably hold on to him until the summer.

CC: Are there any young players at Burnley that could break into the team in the next 12 months?

NNN: Dyche has no record whatsoever of bringing through youth at Burnley, so it seems unlikely. Teenage midfielder Aiden O'Neill had some game-time earlier in the season and appeared to be a decent prospect, but there's been so sign of him for a while now.

CC: Which side is the worst you have played so far and which three teams do you think will go down?

NNN: Hard to say really as all our wins have been close - we've not dominated anyone. Liverpool were pretty rubbish against us but we stopped them playing expertly and Crystal Palace were extremely poor defensively. I don't see Swansea staying up, Hull are going to find it hard and then anyone of about 6-8 clubs could be the last team to go. I'm going for Leicester though - their focus seems completely on the Champions League.

CC: What did you feel about the way the team played against Stoke City in your last game?

NNN: Pretty terrible really. Lots of fans thought the second half was positive and a big improvement, but Stoke shut the game down and we created almost nothing. It says a lot that a 2-0 loss with zero clear chances is being touted as a decent performance, given our woeful away form. There's a real lack of creativity in the team and nobody seems willing to take responsibility in the final third.

CC: How do you expect Burnley to set up against AFC Bournemouth?

NNN: No idea! Dyche went back to 4-4-2 last weekend and it didn't work, but 4-5-1 has served us quite well at home so it would be no surprise if it was Vokes on his own up front with Gray back on the bench. Whatever system it is, we'll stick a lot of players behind the ball and try and hit Bournemouth on the break.

CC: What is your score prediction for the game?

NNN: Despite being really poor away from home, we've been strong at Turf Moor so, as negative as I've probably come across here, I'm fairly positive for Saturday. Bournemouth can be got at if we press them right and we're due a clean sheet. 2-0 to Burnley.

Thanks Jamie for those answers. It is always fascinating for AFCB fans to see how Burnley are doing following Eddie Howe's association with the club and while it is a long way up to Turf Moor there will be plenty of hardy Cherries who fancy the trip to the northwest. These are three points which I think both teams will feel they can gain if they can play their best game, but it may come down to who can disrupt the other side best and knock them out of their normal game. I expect a close game but not many goals.

Howe has to be clear what he wants with England job vacant again

The departure of Sam Allardyce so soon after taking up the position of England manager has come as a real blow I'm sure to the FA. Allardyce admits he made "a serious error of judgement" and his resignation only 67 days into his reign is a sad day for English football in my mind. The chalice is not one that looks particularly welcoming to those who simply want the national team to win games. Now Eddie Howe is expected to be among the lead candidates to be approached, and yet I can't see much that has changed since the summer - apart from the probability that the FA have even fewer candidates to pick from.

The big job just won't go away.

For Eddie it is rather a crossroads. He only stated last week in a BBC interview with Gary Lineker that he would not turn down the opportunity of taking the post if it was ever offered and after what has happened there is a strong possibility that the FA could well come calling even if it would be easier for the men in suits to go straight back to Steve Bruce, who is now out of a job and with no compensation matters to be sorted. Whether Eddie would consider a part time role under Bruce would be something he might be asked to think about, but the distraction from having a sole focus on AFCB might be asking for trouble.

Whoever takes the job has to consider whether making the England side win with all the media attention around it is something that they really desire. I don't know if Eddie really wants that yet but Jeff Mostyn certainly doesn't want it for Eddie.

The performances of AFCB have not been so great in the last few weeks. The Man City thumping raised questions about the teams ability to defend and Howe's knowledge of the defensive side of the game. Much as I think Howe is one of the best young England managers, is he ready to take the top manager's job in England? Even if he asks himself the question, he should say no. But I don't think he has really asked himself that question yet, and while he may have felt along way away from it all last summer, when he was in America, his door has been slightly left ajar by his recent comments about the role. It looks like AFCB fans will have to hold their breath for a few days or at least start shouting about the merits of Steve Bruce, Sean Dyche an Alan Pardew until Eddie Howe either rules himself out or tells the FA that he wants the position.