The Season So Far
Burnley arrive in search of their third successive win of 2016, hoping to continue their recovery from a rocky Christmas period. The Lancashire club picked up seven points from a possible 18 last month, but this campaign has already seen them surpass the 33 that saw them relegated from the top flight in May.
Their performances at home have provided a base for their steady climb up the league but away from Turf Moor it’s a different story. Before Tuesday night, they hadn’t won away from home in the league since October.
Andre Gray returns to Griffin Park today for the first time since he left in August. Two more of their new recruits spent time in West London during 2015; Joey Barton was in his last year at Queens Park Rangers while Chris Long spent half the season on loan here at Brentford.
The club lost the services of fullback Steven Reid, who retired, and Marvin Sordell continued his journey through the Football League by signing for his seventh club in eight years [Colchester United]. Goalkeeper Alex Cisak left Turf Moor to become first choice at Leyton Orient, while young duo Steven Hewitt and Jason Gilchrist were both loaned to National League side Chester.
First Team regulars Ross Wallace and Jason Shackell, after a combined eight years at the club, joined Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County respectively. The squad hasn’t featured Ashley Barnes at all this season, the striker is continuing his recovery from a knee ligament injury picked up in the last campaign.
The Gaffer
Sean Dyche has been in charge of The Clarets for just over three years, the third longest spell in the Championship. This is his second management job after starting his coaching career at Watford, where he rose through the ranks from youth coach, to assistant manager before getting the top job.
A no-nonsense defender in his playing days, and now nicknamed the ‘Ginger Mourinho’, he won Football League honours with Bristol City, Milwall, Northampton Town and most famously Chesterfield.
The officials
Match Referee: Christopher Kavanagh Assistant Referees: Robert Massey-Ellis and Daniel Robathan
Fourth official: Andy Woolmer
Tickets
Check our ticket website for the latest availability.
You can hear live match commentary of the entire match on Bees Player from 7.15pm, with commentator Mark Burridge.