5 good reasons to be cheerful for a Burnley fan

Last updated : 13 September 2016 By The Editor's Chair

Sean Dyche's "Claret and Blue Army" will be out in force at the King Power Stadium on Saturday and they have five very good reasons to be cheerful and full of joy and optimism ahead of the big game.

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Photo source: Burnley Football Club.

Reason One: The reigning Champions have not exactly set off the new season like a house on fire. Ranieri's Foxes currently lie one place below Burnley, albeit on goal difference of minus three.

The Clarets are 15th and Leicester lie 16th in the table on the back of a sound 4-1 thrashing at Anfield in their last fixture. A surprise first away win of the season for Burnley could well be on the cards on Saturday.

Reason Two: Burnley's two record back to back signings are full of vim and vigour. Steven Defour has settled quickly under the watchful auspices of Claret's gaffer Sean Dyche.

Defour scored with an unstoppable shot from 25 yards to open the scoring for the Clarets against Hull City. Only an equally good goal from Robert Snodgrass at the death, prevented Burnley from nicking all 3 points.

Eire international and Claret's record signing Jeff Hendrick had twenty minutes off the bench to strut his stuff. Initial evidence looks like the last minute capture from the Rams has been money well spent. 

Burnley Chairman Mike Garlick, expressed his delight in the Hull City programme notes at spending the thick end of twenty million pounds on a new central midfield pairing.

Whoever said Burnley Football Club are parsimonious?

Reason Three: Sunderland, Stoke City and the newly housed Taxpayers United (aka West Ham United) have all started dreadfully and are the three current favourites to fall through the Premier League's trapdoor.

Whilst not wishing to enjoy opposing team's misfortune, at least the footballing media eyes are not presently focussing on Sean Dyche's Burnley.

Mark Hughes and David Moyes are currently vying for the envious title of "First manager to be sacked this season in the Premier League". Sad but somewhat inevitable?

Reason Four: The FA's disciplinary committee may be hanging over Burnley's naughty tweeter Andre Gray like the Sword of Damocles but Burnley have alternatives to hand should a ban be imposed on the apologetic striker.

New recruit on loan from Chelsea, Patrick Bamford looks more than capable of filling any void should the worse happen to Gray ban wise.

The source of Mourinho's considerable Chelsea angst, Clarets' rough and tumble forward Ashley Barnes is also approaching full fitness.

Sean Dyche spoke pre-season about adding layers of quality to his playing squad. The strength of the Burnley bench is there for all to see. A strong bench for Clarets' fans has been something of a pipedream in recent seasons.

Liverpool's England international Jon Flanagan and Claret loanee is yet to make his full Burnley Premier League debut, epitomizing the choices in player quality Dyche has at his disposal.

Reason Five: Whatever the result, Sean Dyche's "Claret and Blue Army" are always good value for a good day out on their travels.

Safe in the knowledge that Dyche always insists on "maximum effort as a minimum requirement" from his players, Clarets' fans will always give an equally good account of themselves at away fixtures.

Empirical evidence suggests that Burnley fans are amongst the countries most welcome visitors at opposing stadiums. Seriously looking forward to a great day out and three points.

It might be worth adding that Foxes fans are not at all bad either! (TEC).