Burnley finished No.1 in the Championship last season and hence earned direct promotion to the Premier League this year. But things were not always smooth post the promotion for the Clarets with the club taking an eternity to get moving in the transfer market. Burnley have traditionally loathed spending big in the transfer window, basing their principle on risk management instead of taking a gamble and getting players who can give them a realistic chance at survival and maybe more beyond that.
And although they started off in a similar vein this season, the club did sign a couple of players who have the potential to lift Burnley up from the mediocre levels they stay on with an aim to somehow survive.
Burnley are currently in the 14th position having acquired 7 points from 7 games. They would be feeling hard done by in the last game where a late and controversial Koscielny goal denied them a hard fought draw against Arsenal. The Clarets have been slightly inconsistent thus far but have shown on multiple occasions that they are more than capable of giving any team a run for their money.
A win against Liverpool has been their highlight so far but Sean Dyche will hope there are more instances as such.
Faced with an away match against Southampton, the Clarets have an opportunity to put down a marker and bounce back from last match’s disappointment.
T4O’s PREDICTED BURNLEY XI VS SOUTHAMPTON (4-5-1)
DEFENCE
Tom Heaton will be in goal and will hope to keep out an impressive Saints team. He might be in for a busy afternoon if the likes of Austin and Tadic get into their groove.
Matthew Lowton has been selected at right-back but might face competition in the form of Jon Flanagan in the near future. Michael Keane’s displays have earned him an England call-up and he will look to form a solid partnership with Ben Mee in the centre of the defence. Stephen Ward will line up at left-back.
MIDFIELD
A suspension to Andre Gray has given an opportunity to Dyche to go with a strong midfield. Jeff Hendrick will sit on the tip of the midfield trio with Marney and Defour on either side of him albeit slightly ahead. The trio possesses the necessary skill to cause trouble to the Saints’ midfield and need to be on their game.
ATTACK
Boyd is likely to be on the left wing while Gudmundsson will be on the right-wing. Sam Vokes will look to make up for the absence of his strike partner.
