Burnley v Bournemouth preview: Europe-bound Clarets aim to finish on high
Sunday 13 May 2018 07:23, UK
There will be a party atmosphere at Turf Moor as Burnley conclude their hugely successful season by hosting Bournemouth on Sunday.
Sean Dyche's men are guaranteed to finish seventh in the Premier League and have secured European football next season for the first time since 1967.
The Clarets will discover where the European tour takes them when the draw for the Europa League second qualifying round is made in Nyon on Tuesday, June 19.
Their points haul of 54 is easily their best Premier League tally - already 14 more than last season.
However, they have not won any of their last four league games, losing twice, so Dyche will be looking for his team to end on a high.
Dyche, who becomes the first Burnley manager since the late, great Harry Potts to lead the club into Europe, said: "At the end of the day I have come to understand what this means to a town like Burnley.
"I'm from Kettering, don't forget; a town the similar size to Burnley, and they nearly went out of business a few years ago.
"Burnley - a team in the Premier League with a population of around 75,000 - and now in Europe. What's all that about?"
Meanwhile, Bournemouth secured their first win in six Premier League games against Swansea last week, having lost their previous three.
Team news
Burnley have no new injury or suspension concerns ahead of the game, although Dyche may use the fixture to give some of his squad players a run out.
Ashley Barnes (arm), Scott Arfield (calf), Steven Defour and Robbie Brady (both knee) are all absent.
Harry Arter and Adam Smith will both miss Bournemouth's final Premier League clash of the season. Arter continues to battle Achilles trouble, while Smith is still recovering from a knee ligament injury.
Junior Stanislas is still working his way back from knee trouble too, so is another to miss out.
Opta stats
Burnley are looking to secure their first league double over Bournemouth since 1999-00, when they were in the third tier.
Bournemouth have never won in 14 visits to Burnley in all competitions (D6 L8) - at no side have they played more without victory in their history (also 14 vs Southampton).
There have been just 30 goals scored at Turf Moor in the Premier League this season (15 for Burnley, 15 against), the fewest of any ground. The last ground to see fewer in a single campaign was the Etihad in 2006-07 (26).
Live Nissan Super Sunday
The Clarets are guaranteed a seventh-place finish in the Premier League this season - their highest final position in the top-flight since 1973-74 when they finished 6th.
Dyche's side have so far won the lowest percentage of their Premier League points in home games this season (48% - 26/54). Last season, they won a league-high 82.5% of their Premier League points at home (33/40).
Bournemouth have won just one of their last 12 away league games (3-0 at Chelsea in January), drawing six and losing five.
Burnley have made a league-low 33 changes to their starting XI in the Premier League this season, while Bournemouth have used fewer different players than any other side (21).
Merson's predictions
They've both had good seasons. For these two to stay up is an unbelievable feat and Burnley are in the Europa League, too.
I think they've used up a lot of energy, though - I couldn't believe what I was seeing against Arsenal - so I'm going for a Bournemouth win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
