PL PREVIEW: Fulham v Burnley

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All the build-up as Clarets face a big night in the capital

2021-05-11T15:58:00.000Z

PL PREVIEW: Fulham v Burnley

All the build-up as Clarets face a big night in the capital

2021-05-11T15:58:00.000Z

All the build-up as Clarets face a big night in the capital

The Clarets head to Craven Cottage with Premier League safety within their grasp.

The weekend’s results saw Sean Dyche’s men slip a place to 17th in the table.

But they remain nine points clear of Fulham and victory over the Cottagers on Monday night would confirm Burnley’s top-flight status for a sixth year and the Londoners’ relegation straight back to the Championship.

West Bromwich Albion’s defeat to Arsenal on Sunday means there is just one relegation slot still to be filled.

Fulham remain odds-on to make the drop with just four games to go and a minimum of three wins needed from a run of games against Burnley, Southampton, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

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But the Clarets will want to take care of business themselves as quickly as possible to cap a magnificent recovery from a position bottom of the table with just one point from their opening six games.

And to that end Dyche is delighted to have match-winners at his disposal with the return to fitness of Ashley Barnes getting his strikeforce back to up to strength.

Top-scorer Chris Wood and Matej Vydra have formed the starting partnership in recent games.

But having Barnes – who scored an important equaliser against Fulham in February – and Jay Rodriguez – whose two goals helped knocked the Cottagers out of the FA Cup a month earlier – available offers valuable options.

“All the strikers are showing really good sharpness,” said the Burnley boss.

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“Barnesy is slightly different because he’s been injured but I thought Jay Rodriuguez looked sharp again when he came on the other night.

“Woody’s playing well and has got a great goals’ return going and Vyds is looking a threat.

“He’s scored a couple of really important goals too, so you’ve got four strikers who form a very good group, especially for a club like us.”

Team news

The Clarets have no fresh injury concerns after top scorer Chris Wood recovered from a dead leg picked up late on in last Monday’s defeat to West Ham.

But Burnley remain without Robbie Brady and Kevin Long, who scored the third goal in January’s 3-0 FA Cup win at Fulham.

The Cottagers are also nearing a fully fit squad, with former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tom Cairney close to a return following a knee injury that has kept him out since December.

Fellow midfield man Harrison Reed – who also spent time at Ewood Park as a loan signing – is also back in training after missing last weekend’s defeat at Chelsea.

Form guide

The Clarets have won one of their last five league games. Prior to that, they had lost just one in seven.

Sean Dyche’s men have won three of their last six away games and would equal a Premier League high of seven away wins if they can take maximum points in their final two games.

Fulham have drawn one and lost five of their last six games to sit 18th in the table – one place below Burnley.

The Cottagers – who have won just twice at home and scored only nine home goals in the league this season – are nine points behind Burnley and will be relegated for the second time in three seasons if they lose to Sean Dyche’s side for the second time this season following their FA Cup defeat in January.

Opposition camp

Fulham manager Scott Parker: “Yes, they’re must-win fixtures for us, starting on Monday night against Burnley.

“There’s no denying that we’re at a point in our season, with the position we find ourselves in, these are games we’ve got to win now.

“We’ll try everything in our power to win them. We understand the situation, we understand where we are, but the main focus is Monday night.

“And what Monday night is, is an opportunity for us to win a game of football and get three points, and we’ve got to do that.

“My belief is not waning, definitely not, because at this moment there’s still four games left. I’m not deluded, I understand the predicament we’re in, I understand how difficult the challenge is, but the challenge is still there.

“Can we win four? That’s the aim. In the real short term, that’s Monday night, we need to win that game.”

Match stats

Sean Dyche will take charge of his 350th league game as Burnley boss. He has so far recorded130 wins and 97 draws.

Captain Ben Mee will make his 350th appearance for the Clarets.

Burnley-born striker Jay Rodriguez will make the 200th appearance for his hometown club if he features. He scored twice at Fulham in an FA Cup win in January and is on 99 career league goals.

Striker Chris Wood needs one goal for 50 for Burnley in all competitions.

Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill’s last league goal came at Craven Cottage for Bristol City in December 2019.

A 12th home defeat of the season would set an unwanted club record for the Cottagers.

Referee

David Coote

VAR

Peter Bankes

Kick-off

Monday 8pm

Broadcast

Sky Sports