FA CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

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Clarets host the Terriers in FA Cup clash

2022-01-07T13:49:33.234Z

FA CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

Clarets host the Terriers in FA Cup clash

2022-01-07T13:49:33.234Z

Clarets host the Terriers in FA Cup clash

Burnley face Huddersfield Town in an FA Cup third-round tie at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Manager Sean Dyche has tested positive for Covid-19, so assistant manager Ian Woan will take charge of the team.

The Terriers are unbeaten in six league games since a 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough in November.

The FA have decided there will be no replays at the third or fourth round stage and the tie will be played to a conclusion at Turf Moor with extra time and penalties if needed.

Woan knows that Burnley will have to work hard to get past their Championship opponents:

“We are going to have to be at our very best to get something out of the game.

“We do what Burnley do. We get on with it.”

The former Nottingham Forest midfielder thinks Dyche will be involved on Saturday in some capacity.

FA CUP PREVIEW: BURNLEY V HUDDERSFIELD TOWN - Image 1

"I don't know what kind of involvement he can have on Saturday, whether he can stream the game or not, but I'd be surprised if there is not a phone call at half-time shall we say.

"It's quiet, definitely a bit quieter around the place and obviously Steve Stone isn't here either because he's tested positive, so we'll be a couple down on the bench.”

Even with depleted resources, Woan confirmed Burnley are working hard.

“Same work, same diligence that you would do for a Premier League game.

“You don’t get to sixth in the Championship at this stage of the season without being a good side.”

Team news

Josh Brownhill and Nick Pope have come to the end of their isolation period and may be available for selection. However, there are other Covid-19 cases in the Burnley camp.

Ashley Barnes is recovering from a thigh injury but is still a few weeks away.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson is 50/50 for the cup tie.

Nick Pope looks ahead to Arsenal trip

Maxwel Cornet is away on African Cup of Nations duty with the Ivory Coast.

Roberts is on the road to recovery after a bad infection but will miss the game.

Huddersfield winger Aaron Rowe will miss the trip across the Pennines after he tested positive for Covid.

Top scorer Danny Ward is likely to return to the side after a non-Covid related illness.

Jonathan Hogg played for Dyche and Woan at Watford. He is set to return after a knee injury. Former Charlton Athletic defender Naby Sarr is also set to return after a back problem.

Form guide

After an 18-day break Burnley lost Premier League games at Old Trafford and Elland Road inside four days.

Burnley have got past the third-round stage in five of the last six seasons. In 2018 they were beaten 4-1 by Manchester City in the third round at the Etihad.

The last time the Terries reached the fourth round of the FA Cup was four years ago when they won 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers.

Away from home, Huddersfield have won four and lost five of their 14 away games in the league. Back in August, the Terriers won on penalties after a goalless draw at Hillsborough in the Carabao Cup.

Captain Ben Mee reflects on 10 years as a Claret

Opposition guide

Huddersfield Town are celebrating the centenary of their only FA Cup win in 1921/22. They beat Preston North End 1-0 in the final at Stamford Bridge. The Yorkshire side started that FA Cup run with a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor before winning the replay 3-2 at Leeds Road.

Last time out, Huddersfield drew 0-0 at Ewood Park. That ended a run of six successive wins for Blackburn Rovers. Tony Mowbray’s side had bagged 30 goals in their previous 13 home games. Town manager Carlos Corberan missed that game after a positive Covid test.

Corberan has returned to his job after illness. Last season at this stage he fielded a young side in the defeat to Plymouth Argyle. This year will be different as he explained.

“Last year it was very very important for us to have the break at that time, but I don’t consider that this year the number of games in the space of time has been as demanding as last year – not demanding in terms of the quality of the games, but the density of the games last year was higher than this year.

“So, I understand that the number of first-team players in the squad is higher, we have more first-team players than last year, so that allows us to face the competition in a different way to last year.”

The Spanish head coach understands the significance of this year’s quest for success.

“It's a special competition for us. It's a hundred years since we won the competition and every team dreams of trophies. Every trophy starts with one game and we're going to be very respectful and humble but at the same time I always want us to do the best we can. I want to see my players competing at the level I know they can compete.”

Match stats

James Tarkowski could make his 200th appearance for Burnley in all competitions.

Matej Vydra has scored a FA Cup hat-trick against Huddersfield Town. He netted three times for Reading in a 5-2 FA Cup replay win six years ago.

Midfielder Ashley Westwood played in the 2015 FA Cup final when Aston Villa lost 3-0 to Arsenal.

Stand-in manager Ian Woan played in the 1991 FA Cup final for Nottingham Forest. They lost 2-1 after extra time. It was only his 12th professional game after Brian Clough signed him from non-league Runcorn.

Burnley have won their last three penalty shoot-outs all with different goalkeepers - Wayne Hennessey (v Newcastle United, EFL Cup), Will Norris (v MK Dons, FA Cup) and Nick Pope (v Sheffield United, EFL Cup).

Huddersfield Town last beat a Premier League side in the competition when they defeated Birmingham City 2-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium in January 2008.

Referee: Andre Marriner

VAR: David Coote

Kick-off: Saturday 8th January 2022, 12.30pm