Clarets Hope It All Adds Up To Cup win

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Dyche faces fixtures and fitness posers as Burnley aim for quarter-final place

2021-02-08T17:13:06.843Z

Clarets Hope It All Adds Up To Cup win

Dyche faces fixtures and fitness posers as Burnley aim for quarter-final place

2021-02-08T17:13:06.843Z

FA CUP PREVIEW: Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Image 2

Sean Dyche is hoping to win the numbers game and guide the Clarets into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The Clarets face Bournemouth at Turf Moor on Tuesday evening bidding to reach the last eight for the first time since losing to a Watford side, which included Dyche as a substitute, in 2003.

It will be the Clarets’ ninth match in four weeks with big Premier League fixtures against Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion to follow within the next fortnight.

And Dyche’s selection options have been hindered with a handful of senior players unlikely to feature against the Championship side as the Burnley boss continues to juggle his resources.

Clarets Hope It All Adds Up To Cup win - Image 1

“The cup situation has been stretched with the numbers game – with fit players and the number of games – but I’m not crying it in. I don’t believe in that,” said Dyche.

“The fact is the games are there, they are scheduled in and we have to get our mindset right to go and deliver.

“And this is another one of those. We will be putting out a team, as we did at Fulham, with the sense that we believe that team could win and perform.

“It did both and we will be doing that again tomorrow.”

The Clarets won 3-0 at Fulham with nine changes to the side that had beaten Liverpool in the Premier League three days earlier.

It was still an experienced line-up that added to the defeat of MK Dons in round three of the Cup as the Clarets reached the last 16 for only the second time in a decade.

Clarets Hope It All Adds Up To Cup win - Image 2

But this time Dyche looks likely to be without Chris Wood, Charlie Taylor, Josh Brownhill and Robbie Brady – as well as checking on the fitness of midfielder Jack Cork – as he looks to repeat the winning formula.

“The challenge really is the injury situation,” Dyche added.

“We made changes at Fulham and I thought we were excellent.

“It was a very, very strong performance and it shows that players are knocking on the door for a shirt.

“The injury situation has stretched that slightly further and we have to take into account as well.

“There are a few situations we’re still keeping an eye on.

“They’re big decisions, awkward decisions, but we’ve got to safeguard the group for the rest of the season, not just for one or two games.”