Burnley Match Preview

The away games at Aston Villa and Brentford should have perhaps yielded more rewards than they did for West Ham United and that means that they still haven’t won a Premier League match on the road since the 2-1 success at newly-promoted Luton Town back on 1 September. They really should be able to earn all three points this afternoon when they travel to another top-flight newcomer in the shape of Burnley.

The Hammers picked up their first victory since 30 September before the international break, thanks to a dramatic 3-2 home triumph over Nottingham Forest.

That victory lifted David Moyes’ side up to ninth place in the table and the visitors will be keen to take the momentum gained from that topsy-turvy match thirteen days ago into today’s encounter, as they try to inflict another defeat on the Clarets. If they were to notch a third success on their travels, then the East Londoners would have beaten all three of the newly-promoted clubs.

This will be the first time that Moyes’ men have ventured outside of London since the 4-1 defeat at Villa Park directly after the last international break.

Vincent Kompany’s side also won at Kenilworth Road earlier in the campaign, as well as knocking Salford City out of the Carabao Cup before Everton knocked them out in Round Three but they are yet to taste success at Turf Moor since winning the Sky Bet Championship title so if the three points don’t come back to Stratford, then Moyes and his players will see it as three points dropped, not to mention the large travelling contingent that will be backing them to the final whistle in Lancashire.

On the flipside though, the hosts may fancy their chances and hope that West Ham will have one eye on Thursday’s UEFA Europa League encounter against FK TSC Bačka Topola.

Michail Antonio missed out on a place in the starting line-up against his former club last time out and he will be unavailable altogether here, as he suffered a knee injury while playing for Jamaica and is expected to be out for the next three weeks.

Jarrod Bowen will face a late fitness test as he also picked up a knee problem whilst on duty with his country. If the former Hull City winger is not deemed fit enough to be involved then Danny Ings will be handed a rare start against his former club.

The hosts will almost certainly include former Hammer Josh Cullen in their starting line-up, meaning he will face the East Londoners for the first time since leaving in the summer of 2020.

The club’s website is giving big hints on who else might be considered for selection with Pablo Fornals and Saïd Benrahma reportedly in the matchday squad.

Lucas Paquetá scored the opening goal in the victory against the Tricky Trees and, with Kompany’s men having scored only seven goals so far this season, the Brazilian may be in with a chance of improving his tally here.

The match is a 3pm kick-off and the referee is Sam Barrott.