Predictions for Burnleh (A)

[Claretforever]

I know it is early season but for me this is a must NOT lose game. If we are to challenge for
automatic promotion we cannotlpse this kind of game

:facepalm:

Yes we can.

And fair play to the Claret up there who's done his best to be helpful ^^

May I take this opportunity to ask how Burnley have been playing, and whether you're a flash in the pan or in the title chase for the long haul?

Thank you. We're playing extremely well, and look a really good side capable of hurting anybody. The trouble we have is that we have a fantastic first 11, with perhaps another couple of good players (first 13 or so), but once injuries and suspensions kick in around November/December we will struggle to replace them with like for like quality. The Burnley fans don't realistically expect us to be top 2 in May, and in August we'd have been happy with top half, but I think top 6 is now becoming an expectation/hope.

Dyche has us playing some attractive football and having two player up front banging the goals in always causes problems for the opposition. We have only had that 2 or 3 times over 20 years, as usually you have one scoring and the other plays a support role and scores a handful. Vokes wins his headers as he's a big strong lad, and Ings is the type who like to pick the ball up, turn and run at defenders. It's causing all sorts of problems for teams, hence we're picking our fair share of points up away from home too.

[URZZZZZ]

Billy Sharp is fit and ready to start according to Royals boss Nigel Adkins.

The striker finally completed his loan deal to Reading last Thursday, but was an unused substitute against Birmingham at the weekend.

He made his debut at Barnsley on Tuesday night, coming on for the last five minutes during the 1-1 draw.

That was his first taste of competitive football since May, but Adkins says he would have no problem throwing him in against Burnley tomorrow.

“Billy’s pushing for a start,” he said. “I was going to put him on with 20 minuets to go against Birmingham but the complexion of the game changed a bit and we had to adapt to what was going on.

“Then I toyed with the idea of starting him against Barnsley, but I looked at Pavel Pogrebnyak and Adam Le Fondre and they were right at it the other night.

“They know they have to be because Billy is desperate to go and play.”

If Sharp does make his full debut at Turf Moor, he will face a Burnley side who sit top of the Championship.

Sean Dyche’s men have enjoyed a superb start to the season, losing just once.

Having lost star striker and former Royals target, Charlie Austin, to Queens Park Rangers in the summer, many thought Burnley might struggle for goals.

But Sam Vokes and Danny Ings have made sure that is not the case, scoring 13 times between them in the league already.

Adkins said: “I’m sure Sean wouldn’t have let Charlie go if he wasn’t confident he had the two good players who could step up.

“Both Vokes and Ings are bang on form. They have their opportunity now and they are forming a great partnership.

“They suit each other ever so well. They work very, very hard and have had an excellent start to the season.”

If Burnley’s strikers are to continue their impressive goalscoring form, they will have to get through a Reading defence which has been very solid in recent weeks.

Royals have conceded just two goals in their last six games with Alex Pearce and Sean Morrison’s partnership improving with each match.

“They’ve played together for the 10 games,” said Adkins. “We’ve looked for that stability.

“In Pearce and Morrison we’ve got two young centre halves who are growing in stature with every game.”

[Cripple Creek]

Thanks for your contribution Claret4ever. I am more than a little surprised that your fans would see a draw as a decent result. Reading really aren't playing well. Our position in the division flatters to deceive. Personally I think a draw would be a great result for Reading but my heart says a Burnley victory. Hope it's a good day out for everyone, even Alastair Campbell who I have a sneaking admiration for.

[Horsham Royal]

1-55
10 POG
9 Sharp
8 Mcanuff
7 Mcleary
6 ALF
5 Pearce
4 Morrison
3 Bridge
2 Guthrie
1 HRK

McCarthy to have a poor game then ...

[Mike Hunt]

Thanks for your contribution Claret4ever. I am more than a little surprised that your fans would see a draw as a decent result. Reading really aren't playing well. Our position in the division flatters to deceive. Personally I think a draw would be a great result for Reading but my heart says a Burnley victory. Hope it's a good day out for everyone, even Alastair Campbell who I have a sneaking admiration for.

This team is on the cusp of giving someone a hiding. Tomorrow is the day.

[Claretforever]

I don't agree with anyone giving us a hiding as such, as I think we've only been beaten by more than one goal once (?) since Dyche took over, which was versus Brighton in August when we had 10 men. We're pretty tight at the back, but all good things come to an end sometime. You're main problem today will likely be if Trippier (right back) is allowed to get his fabulous crosses in to the strikers. Stop him and you stop the wing supply.

We've won 5 on the bounce, and 7 wins and a draw in our last 8, so are probably due a defeat at some point soon. That draw sticks in the throat a little as it was against B*****d Rovers with them nicking a draw in the 86th minute from a deflected clearance

[Royal Ginger]

That draw sticks in the throat a little as it was against B*****d Rovers with them nicking a draw in the 86th minute from a deflected clearance

Fair warning, if we get anything out of this match, this is most likely how we'll do it. We've got a bit of a rep for grabbing last minute goals. We call it Alfie (Le Fondre) time.

[bobby1413]

If ALF starts today ill be blood peed off.

Pog to start with Sharp I hope, alf on around 70 minute mark

[Royal Ginger]

If ALF starts today ill be blood peed off.

Pog to start with Sharp I hope, alf on around 70 minute mark

I'd tend to agree, however Sharp may not be match fit yet, in which case I'd rather go with just Pog up top.

[Pepe the Horseman]

If Williams is fit, I'd start him instead of Alf

[bobby1413]

If ALF starts today ill be blood peed off.

Pog to start with Sharp I hope, alf on around 70 minute mark

I'd tend to agree, however Sharp may not be match fit yet, in which case I'd rather go with just Pog up top.

Yea as I typed my first post I did think of that. I heard he was a bit rusty at burnley, tbh a stronger midfield and defence will be best today anyway!

[sputnik]

We've a good record at Turf Moor in the league, P16 W8 L5 D3
I reckon we'll improve on this with a 1-0 win

[Man Friday]

2-0 loss. Middlin' performance. (Again.)

[Claretforever]

That draw sticks in the throat a little as it was against B*****d Rovers with them nicking a draw in the 86th minute from a deflected clearance

Fair warning, if we get anything out of this match, this is most likely how we'll do it. We've got a bit of a rep for grabbing last minute goals. We call it Alfie (Le Fondre) time.

Aye, tell me about it; you beat us in the 97th minute at the Turf a couple of years back, after Jay Tabb had been knocked unconscious by our keeper's clearance.

[sandman]

It was his own fault for being so short. I mean if he'd been a normal sized person it would have hit him in the chest.

[Victor Meldrew]

I worry about the pace of Ings against Pearce and the flying Trippier against whoever we play wide left but I am a born worrier when it comes to RFC so it hopefully won't matter.
Not sure about Pog and Alfie being "on it" as Nigel called it the other night when neither scored and neither scored v Birmingham.
Sharp is supposedly quite costly to employ so with no game next Saturday and if he doesn't play today he is starting to look a bit expensive with RFC paying him for just over 2 months' work at most but at 3 months' wages.

[Gordons Cumming]

Second league defeat of the season coming up.

Burnley are strong at home at the moment.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

0-0

We'll be so aware of the scoring threat of Burnley that we'll concentrate on defending. The midfield won't push forward, Pog will be completely isolated, get increasing frustrated with the lack of service until he lashes/kicks out and gets a red card, but we'll hang on and be happy to come back with a point.