Preview: Burnley v Wolves – Concentrating on the league
Wolves travel north to face Burnley at Turf Moor.
Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers previews the clash.
Preamble
In the midst of the anticipation and excitement ahead of the club's first FA Cup semi-final appearance in 21 years, the fact Wolves have two league games to play before then has almost gone on the back burner.
It's hard to ignore the seismic Wembley encounter on the horizon, but Nuno Espirito Santo won't be anything less than enraged if his players take their eye off the ball at Turf Moor on Saturday and for Tuesday's league rematch against Manchester United.
After all, if this isn't Wolves' year in the FA Cup (and if Manchester City lift the trophy), they need to finish seventh if they're to qualify for Europe at the end of their first season back in the top flight.
With main rivals for that position Watford travelling to Old Trafford on Saturday, victory for Wolves at Burnley could see Nuno's boys open up a decent gap going into the final weeks of the season.
In Burnley they will face struggling, but motivated, opposition. The Clarets are fighting for their Premier League lives, just two points above 18th-placed Cardiff who have a game in hand.
With Sean Dyche's team playing Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal in their past four matches, Dyche knows their next three fixtures against Wolves, Bournemouth and Cardiff could make or break their survival hopes.
The opposition
Declan Clark wrote in the Burnley Express:
"There's plenty riding on Burnley's game against Wolves in the Premier League this weekend.
"The fixture against the Europa League hopefuls will be the penultimate time this season that Sean Dyche's side take on opposition outside the top six at Turf Moor this term.
"After facing Nuno Espirito Santo's FA Cup semi-finalists, the Clarets' next home game is against Cardiff City in what could turn in to a direct shootout for survival.
"With just two points separating themselves and the Bluebirds at the bottom end of the table, Burnley come into this game knowing nothing but a win will do as they look to stave off the drop back down to the Championship.
"Dyche’s side were below standard in the first half of the season and without a good run of results, boosted by the return of England international Tom Heaton, they may have been staring relegation in the face, becoming favourites to join Fulham and Huddersfield Town.
"With a solitary win in their last five games the international break came at a fantastic time for the Clarets, giving them a well-needed rest and a chance to regroup and rebuild ahead of this huge game.
"Dyche will surely be looking for a better performance from his team after a tired display against 10-man Leicester City last time out."
We also spoke to Burnley expert Dave Roberts for a full low-down on the Clarets.
Team news
Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson went off injured while playing for Iceland during the international break but trained on Thursday.
Aaron Lennon (knee) and Steven Defour (calf) are both out.
Wolves are without the suspended Ryan Bennett, who serves the second of his two-match league ban after accumulating 10 yellow cards.
Unless anyone has picked up a knock over the past two weeks, Wolves will otherwise be at full strength.
Likely line ups
Burnley (4-4-2): Heaton; Bardsley, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor; Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Barnes, Wood.
Wolves (3-5-2): Patricio; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Otto; Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Vinagre, Gibbs-White, Traore, Cavaleiro, Costa
Key players
Burnley – Ashley Barnes
Burnley’s top scorer with nine, Barnes is a physical presence who wears his heart on his sleeve. The 29-year-old is a relentless runner who has netted four times in his last eight league matches. The Wolves backline will also need to keep a close eye on his in-form strike partner, former Albion man Chris Wood.
Wolves – Willy Boly
With Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes up front Burnley’s strength often comes from crosses. Willy Boly’s aerial prowess will be crucial.
The bosses
Sean Dyche, who takes charge of Burnley for the 300th time: "I can honestly say, without any doubt in my ability, I didn’t think we would be here 300 games later. Nothing has changed (despite four recent defeats), it was a bitter pill to swallow against Leicester, especially as they barely had an attack in the second half, but we still have to take care of ourselves. We know what’s in front of us, and all the games are important."
Defender Phil Bardsley: "To concede late on against 10 men (against Leicester) was a tough one to take. But things like that happen and it's up to us now to go into the Wolves game and really put the game to them. We're not a group of lads that will throw the towel in at any time. We will keep fighting to the end."
Nuno Espirito Santo: "Three games in a week requires a lot of effort and energy. We have to prepare well, but also recover well after the game. The way we allow players to recover from their games to be ready again is basic. But we know it’s going to be a tough challenge, three games in a week is tough."
Form
Burnley LLLLW
Mar 16: Burnley 1 (McNeil 38) Leicester City 2 (Maddison 33, Morgan 90)
Mar 10: Liverpool 4 (Firmino 19, 67, Mane 29, 90+3) Burnley 2 (Westwood 6, Gudmundsson 90+1)
Mar 2: Burnley 1 (Barnes 90) Crystal Palace 3 (Bardsley OG 15, Batshuayi 48, Zaha 76)
Feb 26: Newcastle United 2 (Schar 24, Longstaff 38) Burnley 0
Feb 23: Burnley 2 (Wood 57, Barnes 83) Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Kane 65)
Wolves WDWLD
Mar 16: Wolves 2 (Jimenez 70, Jota 77) Manchester United 1 (Rashford 90+5) *FA Cup
Mar 10: Chelsea 1 (Hazard 90+1) Wolves 1 (Jimenez 56)
Mar 2: Wolves 2 (Jota 16, Jimenez 18) Cardiff City 0
Feb 26: Huddersfield Town 1 (Mounie 90+1) Wolves 0
Feb 23: Bournemouth (King pen 14) Wolves 1 (Jimenez pen 83)
Past five meetings
Sep 16, 2018 (PL): Wolves 1 (Jimenez 61) Burnley 0
Mar 19, 2016 (Ch): Burnley 1 (Vokes 68) Wolves 1 (Batth 90)
Nov 7, 2015 (Ch): Wolves 0 Burnley 0
Apr 27, 2013 (Ch): Wolves 1 (Dicko 88) Burnley 2 (Ings 8, Paterson 53)
Nov 3, 2012 (Ch): Burnley 2 (Paterson 18, Austin 53) Wolves 0
Memory lane
March 30, 2002 (Championship)
Dean Sturridge scored twice and Colin Cameron the other as Wolves raced to a 3-0 half-time lead at Burnley in March 2002, before holding on for a 3-2 win after Ian Thomas-Moore and David Johnson pulled goals back. It was a first win in five for Dave Jones' stumbling side – and only one win in their remaining four games saw them pipped to automatic promotion by Albion.
Wolves line-up: Oakes; Connelly (Halle 23), Butler, Lescott, Camara; Newton, Rae, Cameron, Cooper; Sturridge (Miller 79), Blake (Ndah 57). Subs not used: Murray, Andrews.
Match facts
Historically Wolves have a great record against Burnley. Dating back to the mid-1970s they've won 27 of the past 41 meetings, with Burnley winning just seven
Wolves have won their past seven top-flight matches against Burnley – they've only had a longer winning run in the top-flight against Birmingham (10 between 1957 and 1962)
Raul Jimenez has scored nine goals in his past 14 appearances. He's also netted in his past four matches including a penalty for Mexico against Chile during the international break
Conor Coady has played every minute in the Premier League this season, one of only four outfield players to do so along with Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Ben Mee (Burnley) and Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace)
Coady has also played every minute in the cups this season. The last time Wolves played and he wasn't on the field was at Swansea in the FA Cup, 14 months and 56 games ago
Sean Dyche takes charge of Burnley for the 300th time. His first match was also at home to Wolves – Martin Paterson and Charlie Austin scored in a 2-0 Championship win for the Clarets in 2012
Referee
Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Kavanagh has taken charge of two Wolves games this season and they've won them both – 1-0 at West Ham and 4-3 at home to Leicester.
In total he's shown 85 yellow cards and two reds in 25 matches, including a red for Millwall's Shane Ferguson during their shoot-out FA Cup defeat to Brighton two weeks ago.
Match odds
Burnley 21/10, draw 21/10, Wolves 6/4
