The State of Play
In their recent Premier League encounter, Burnley, reduced to ten men, fell to a defeat to Aston Villa, despite a commendable effort that saw them equalise twice. The pivotal moment came with Sander Berge’s expulsion, leaving them at a disadvantage for the final 30 minutes.
The upcoming narrative for Burnley heavily relies on a positive start to the new year. Their performance has been sub-par since the 5-0 triumph over Sheffield United at the beginning of December, accumulating only four points out of a potential 21 since.
The team’s defensive vulnerabilities are glaring, having conceded the second-highest number of goals in the league. Addressing this weakness promptly is crucial for their survival in the top flight.
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Edwards confident in upwardly mobile Luton
In the late December clash with Chelsea, Luton exhibited commendable resilience in a comeback attempt that ultimately fell short, resulting in a 3-2 defeat on their home turf.
Throughout their December fixtures, Rob Edwards’ squad managed to secure six points out of a possible 18, marking their first back-to-back victories in the Premier League this season. Despite emerging as an unexpected surprise, the Hatters struggle with converting promising performances into consistent results due to a lingering issue – a lack of defensive solidity.
With a game in hand over Everton, who are just ahead of them, securing a victory would not only narrow the gap but also make a significant statement in Luton’s ongoing fight for survival.
Team News
Vincent Kompany finds himself in a challenging situation as he evaluates the fitness of key players ahead of the upcoming match. The involvement of Lyle Foster is uncertain due to a foot injury, while Charlie Taylor’s shoulder ailment is currently being assessed. Luca Koleosho and Hjalmar Ekdal, meanwhile, are confirmed to be unavailable.
On a positive note, Jack Cork has recovered and is expected to be part of the squad, and there is also optimism surrounding the potential return of Jordan Beyer.
Carlton Morris, who experienced cramping in the FA Cup draw with Bolton last weekend, is now in contention, but Jacob Brown will be unavailable due to suspension.
Reece Burke and Dan Potts are undergoing fitness assessments, but their chances of being available for the Burnley clash appear slim. The team continues to cope without the services of Tom Lockyer and Marvelous Nakamba, both currently unavailable indefinitely, while Issa Kabore is on international duty with Burkina Faso at AFCON.
Expected Line-ups
Burnley: Trafford; Vitinho, O’Shea, Beyer, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert; Rodriguez, Amdouni
Luton: Kaminski; Mengi, Osho, Bell; Doughty, Lokonga, Barkley, Giles; Ogbene, Townsend; Adebayo
What they Said
Vincent Kompany on the mentality of his squad:
“We have the right characters. If they are looking for a pay day and not for progression then [we] are in trouble. I feel I have characters who have a growth mindset. These type of signs do turn into results.”
Rob Edwards on the prospect of January signings:
Edwards added: “If it’s one [new signing] or if it’s stay as we are, I’d genuinely be happy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two little bits of change, but it’s important to stress that I don’t want too much. I want to come out of the window stronger but keeping a lot of what we’ve got is important to me.”
When and How to Watch
This fixture will be televised on TNT Sports, and can be streamed in discovery+.
Prediction
Luton have demonstrated resilience this season, proving their capability to push top-tier teams to their limits. In matches against Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, they narrowly missed out on favourable results, leaving a lasting impression that they have the determination to overcome the potential challenges posed by Burnley in their quest for securing a crucial three points.
