News

Burnley Attempt To Make History

Football is a game of slim margins, and nobody knows that better than sides who compete in Britain – and more specifically, England and Scotland. Whilst certain other leagues around the world can be quite unpredictable, nothing can quite compare to the tension and last minute drama associated with things over here. So then, when you consider that Burnley and Aberdeen couldn’t be separated in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League tie, it makes you wonder what on earth is going to go down tonight when they square off yet again.

This is an important tie for both teams and that’s an understatement in every sense of the word because they’ll both consider this to be an extremely winnable fixture. On top of that, it’s no secret that a lot of fans are eager to go on more European adventures, and travelling up and down between the north of England and Scotland isn’t exactly what they would’ve had in mind when they qualified last season.

Aberdeen have more experience in recent times when it comes to European competition, but for Burnley, this is a rarity – and that’s putting it likely. They’ve always been viewed as the ‘younger brother’ of sorts to the Lancashire sides around them, as well as the bigger sides such as Manchester United & Manchester City. Now, though, they’re playing with a self-belief that stems from the phenomenal leadership of Sean Dyche, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Dyche has put together a squad that will fight and claw for the badge on their shirt from the first whistle to the very last, but beyond that, he actually has them playing good football too.

When you think of the Clarets you don’t tend to think of slick passing football and high-tempo attacking play, but that’s what they’ve been able to implement alongside their strengths from a defensive standpoint. Football is all about finding the right balance, and to say that Dyche has accomplished that goal would be an understatement.

In terms of what they need to do going forward, though, it’s vital that they don’t fall into the trap of thinking they can play it easy here. We’ve seen many clubs battle their way towards a place in Europe over the course of a gruelling season only to be knocked out in qualifying, all because they weren’t ready or adequately prepared. That’s how Burnley came across at times in the first leg but thankfully, the equaliser from Sam Vokes seems to have got them back on the straight and narrow.

In front of their home fans, there’s no real reason for Burnley to fear Aberdeen, and they’ve been fortunate to get the second leg at Turf Moor as opposed to the other way around. This team has faced far more intimidating foes over the course of the last twelve months, and the key to this game will be to ensure that Aberdeen doesn’t set any kind of physical tempo early on.

If they can neutralise what the Scots try to do in the first few minutes, then they don’t need to worry about seeking out the goal, because it will come. If they allow themselves to play the progressive and free-flowing football that we’re used to seeing from them then things will fall into place, because that’s what we’re used to seeing from them. The key to success here is not allowing the occasion to get to the players, and when you’ve got a manager like Sean Dyche behind you, it feels like that won’t be something that he’ll allow to happen. We’re backing the English side to come away with a commanding 3-1 victory in this one, sending them through with an aggregate score of 4-2.