Burnley

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Given Burnley's perilous position near the foot of the table, it felt like a certain irony was attached when one of the themes from the famous Western movie, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', rang out around Turf Moor prior to kick-off.

And on a gloomy day in east Lancashire, it did not take long for things to get unpleasant for the home side.

They had already been guilty of losing possession cheaply when Lucas Pires' poor touch was seized upon in midfield by Mateus Fernandes.

The 21-year-old Portuguese was able to stride forward and release Crysencio Summerville who had the simple task of calmly guiding the ball past Martin Dubravka.

Valentin Castellanos' first Premier League goal since joining West Ham from Lazio in January - adding to his FA Cup goal against QPR - was also far too simplistic and easy in its nature.

After the ball was transferred wide, the 27-year-old was under no pressure whatsoever when he nodded Diouf's centre past Slovakia goalkeeper Dubravka.

It was the 25th goal conceded by Burnley in the opening half of a Premier League game this season and, not known for their attacking prowess, it left them with too much to do after the break.

They are now within one game of unwanted history too, with their worst run (17) without a top-flight victory coming at the start of 1889-90.

Burnely boss Scott Park, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was tough today and certainly the first half was tough.

"I don't think there was a lack of desire or passion. We're in a difficult moment. I think you can feel that and the stadium felt that.

"I tgink you see a team that is fragile at this present moment in time, for sure. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and in the decond half we had numurous chances to crank up the pressure. We have just fallen a little bit short today for many reasons. We are really disappointed.

"It was edgy and we felt that and I think that reflected on the players at times.

"West Ham were clinical in the first half and it just took the sting out of us really."

Did you know?

• Burnley are winless in their last 16 Premier League games (D5 L11). They're one of just two teams in England's top four tiers without a league win since the start of November, along with Sheffield Wednesday.

• The Clarets had 18 shots against West Ham United, their most in a single Premier League game this season.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Burnley's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Esteve, Humphreys, Walker, Ugochukwu, Florentino, Flemming Pires, Edwards, Anthony, Mejbri.

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Foster, Tchaouna, Ekdal, Broja, Laurent, Barnes.

West Ham XI: Hermansen, Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf, Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville, Wilson, Castellanos.

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Traore, Pablo Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Man Utd v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Burnley v West Ham

• Fulham v Everton

• Wolves v Chelsea

• Newcastle v Brentford (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra with second half on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bournemouth v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Sunderland", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests.

His guest for week 25 is Gladiators star Apollo, real name Alex Gray, who supports Newcastle.

Sutton says: I think Burnley are down but this is their chance to prove me wrong.

They need it to be - they are at home, against a team one place above them in the table, so this is their big chance to end their long wait for a win.

I just don't see it happening for the Clarets, though.

I am not sure which West Ham side will turn up, but they have shown some improvement recently, especially in attack.

I don't think the Hammers will keep a clean sheet because they have had only one all season - the fewest by any top-flight team - but I don't see Burnley beating them.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Apollo's prediction: 2-1

AI's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Burnley welcome West Ham United to Turf Moor on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in a match of huge importance in the battle to avoid relegation.

Desperate times for Burnley

Fifteen matches without a league win, 11 points from safety and just 14 games remaining. Things are getting desperate for Burnley as they head into a six-pointer with fellow strugglers West Ham.

Monday night's dismal defeat at Sunderland left Scott Parker raging, with the Clarets boss saying they "fell short in terms of a lack of intent in everything we did at times".

One of Parker's biggest concerns is that it is not just at one end of the pitch that they are struggling, it's at both.

Burnley are now responsible for four of the 12 occasions that a team has failed to register a shot on target in a Premier League game this season.

While Martin Dubravka may have made the most saves in the top flight this campaign with 97, he's also conceded more goals than any other goalkeeper with 47.

The loss at the Stadium of Light means they are now just two defeats short of equalling their longest winless run within the same top-flight season of 17, set way back in 1889-90.

They are yet to find the magic formula of how to bridge the gap between the second tier and the top one. Across 100 Premier League games in 2021-22, 2023-24 and this campaign so far, they have won just 15 games and lost 56. That contrasts with 57 wins and just five defeats in 92 Championship matches across 2022-23 and 2024-25.

Hammers ruing Chelsea defeat

West Ham are still licking their wounds after letting a two-goal lead slip to lose against Chelsea. If they had held on for a win it would have been their fourth on the spin in all competitions and would have put the Hammers just three points from safety.

Instead, it marked the seventh time that they've failed to win after opening the scoring this season (D3, L4), while they've also dropped the joint-most amount of points from winning positions in the top flight.

It was also the 21st consecutive league game in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet, the longest such run in Europe's top five leagues.

One source of comfort to Hammers' fans is their excellent recent record against Burnley that has seen them pick up four wins and three draws in their last seven league encounters.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be targeting another fast start at Turf Moor. They have scored eight goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games, while opponents Burnley have let in six goals in the opening 10 minutes - both of which are top-flight highs.

Having already lost to Sunderland and Leeds this season, the east Londoners are aiming to avoid losing to all three promoted clubs in a single campaign for the first time since 2009-10. That included a 2-1 defeat away to Burnley.

Before this game kicks off, all eyes will be on Friday's night's clash between 16th-place Leeds United and 17th-place Nottingham Forest at Elland Road.

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against West Ham at Turf Moor (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Burnley boss on team news: "No real fresh injuries really. The longer-term boys are still the longer-term boys. James [Ward-Prowse] can't play this weekend due to playing against West Ham, but everyone else is pretty good."

• Parker told the media that "harsh words" are not the way "forward" for his "young team" when "confidence is low" because of recent losses and their position in the table.

• On it being a huge match: "I think every game is going to be like that for us now. Of course this game is a massive one but we are now at the point of the season where every game is a massive game because of where we sit."

• On if winning creates momentum: "Yeah for sure it does, but I'm also conscious that we've been in this position at times this season where you feel as if there is this momentum and then we let ourselves down."

• He added: "So let's not worry about the outcome here, but have a clear focus on what we have to be and how we need to go about it."

• The former Hammers midfielder also said: "We're in this together and we're going to keep trying to swing."

• He added: "Sometimes we'll swing and miss and sometimes it might not just go our way. Sometimes we will let ourselves down, maybe, while of course we endeavour not for that to be the case. But, yeah, we'll stick together."

• On West Ham: "They have had a big improvement over the last three or four weeks. They have brought some players in and I think you can see a pick-up in their results. It's probably a different side to the one we faced at the start of the season, but it's going to be a tough game."

Follow all of Saturday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Liste to full match commentary of Burnley v West ham on 95.5FM with Scott Read & Steve Eyre

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

One player in. One.

A player who is only eligible for 14 games and cannot play our home game this weekend against West Ham. And who Scott Parker did not bring on during our woeful display against Sunderland on Monday.

Do I think that Burnley - a team currently sitting in the relegation zone with just 15 points to their name and 11 points shy of survival - did enough in the transfer window? No, I do not. Do I think they should have at least tried to bring in a player who can get our xG to around one? Yes, I do.

There is one obvious justification for the lack of transfer activity; the Clarets are so bad this season, and so far away from any realistic survival chances, that investing any money on new players is simply throwing good money after bad. Who is going to come to us when are showing such an abject lack of fight or quality?

And the reality is that we need replacements all over the park, with only a couple of players coming out of this season with any credibility.

Martin Dubravka, despite a few errors, has kept us in far more games that we had right to be in. Both Bashir Humphries and Lesley Ugochukwu have shown moments of quality.

The main player - the one we miss so terribly - is Josh Cullen. I could have happily taken all 11 off after that first half against Sunderland and would not have complained about seeing a group of Sunday league players in their place.

I am not sure even three more players would make a difference. So I get the justification for saving our money.

We are already preparing for life in the Championship - again - and it is all just so very predictable and sad.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Sunderland and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Sunderland fans

Paul: Another great response to a disappointing defeat away from home. The players who are back from Afcon were great and we looked strong across the park. A lot said about Burnley being poor, but I believe our high press and intensity in winning the ball contributed to them looking second best.

Mason: A performance full of energy, in contrast to the last match at West Ham. Habib Diarra brought much-needed intensity to the team and some of the football was a joy to watch. If only we had a clinical goal merchant to put away those gilt-edged chances, though Brian Brobbey's hold-up play was excellent. Burnley were poor so it's difficult to judge how good a Sunderland display that was.

Tommo: Amazing night, three goals and a clean sheet. What more is there to say?

David: How refreshing to see midfielders run directly at the opposition, get a shot away and reap the rewards. Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi looked bright on their return and they're forming an immediate connection with the ever-improving beast Brobbey. Another smart day off the pitch and great night on it for the club. The future is bright, the future is red and white.

Burnley fans

Andy: The word for our display was insipid. All season long, there has been no block, poor decisions and no - or little - desire to play and win. There is no fight - they are almost like mercenaries. We don't learn from our mistakes, nor does Scott Parker, and definitely not our useless owners. We are doomed and I think the yo-yo years are over - unless something drastic occurs, it's League One and beyond. After 67 years of support I'm so depressed, thanks to this pathetic display.

Barry: Absolutely woeful. We lack passion as well as quality. Poor signings, or lack of, and questionable tactics are putting us back to where we belong in the Championship. If we don't change things quickly then, sadly, we may not be good enough for that league.

John: Angry that the team has disintegrated to this, but mainly embarrassed.

David: This was a deeply disappointing performance, not just because of the result, but because of how passive and predictable we looked throughout the game. There was a real lack of intensity, both in and out of possession. We never imposed ourselves, never made Sunderland uncomfortable, and for long spells it felt like we were reacting rather than competing. What's most frustrating is the absence of a clear attacking identity, not one attempt on target! We didn't lose fighting, we lost without ever really landing a punch.

Mark: Was a very painful watch for 90 minutes. The team had no fight or even knew what to do. We just let them run the game. Parker should go now - either get sacked or hand in his resignation. We're so poor and he hasn't got the technical tactics for the Premier League. He is as bad as Vincent Kompany was.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

If one moment summed up a listless Burnley performance it would be, when they were awarded a first-half free-kick midway inside the Sunderland half.

If it was not bad enough that they had conceded a sixth goal inside the opening 10 minutes of a league game this term, Burnley - having loaded the home penalty area with players to attack an expected delivery - instead went short. And they immediately conceded a free-kick in return when Florentino Luis blocked Chemsdine Talbi's attempt to close down the ball outside the box.

Sadly for Burnley supporters it was far from an isolated moment of poor decision-making which contributed to them failing to register a single effort on target.

Nor was it restricted to the way they tried to attack, with their attempts to play out from the back repeatedly inviting pressure and providing Sunderland with several opportunities to increase the margin of their victory.

With the basics of game management sadly lacking, far from leaving the Stadium of Light with hope, Burnley's prospects of Premier League survival appear to be an even gloomier proposition.

Burnley manager Scott Parker, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Really disappointed. We come to a tough place tonight, which we knew. We didn't really give ourselves a chance, really. The ingredients you need coming here, the real basics of the game, we fell way short.

"It surprised me. I've probably been here a couple of times this year where they've surprised me coming off the back of some good performances. Maybe it's easy to come out the back of Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs, but tonight we were way short.

"I didn't see this performance coming, certainly where we've come from in terms of performances and the results we picked up. We were way, way short of ever being competitive in this division.

"I don't care who you play, if you're going to fall down where we fell short in terms of a lack of intent in everything we did at times...It looked passive at every phase. For that, you get dealt with what you get dealt with."

Burnley defender Kyle Walker, speaking to Sky Sports on what he makes of his side's performance: "Terrible. We've come here to get something from the game and got nothing, so as a club that's fighting for survival it's not acceptable.

"It's 22 men on a football pitch, it's about who wants it more, and they wanted it more than us.

"I'd say the hunger's there. The lads work hard day in, day out, the hunger's there, but sometimes football matches aren't won on hunger, they're won by using your head and playing the game of football.

"When certain situations arise in a game, you're meant to deal with them in a manner that's appropriate for that situation. We don't, for whatever reason, seem to do that."

Did you know?

• There have been 12 instances of a side failing to register a shot on target in a Premier League game this season with Burnley being responsible for four of those (more than any other team). Meanwhile, it was the first time Sunderland have prevented their opponents from landing a shot on target in a top-flight game since April 2016 v West Brom.

• Burnley have kept just one clean sheet in their last 38 away Premier League games, conceding at least once in each of their last 22 top-flight matches on the road.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Sunderland's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies

Sunderland make two changes to the side that started their 3-1 Premier League defeat at West Ham on 24 January.

Eliezer Mayenda and Romaine Mundle drop to the bench with Habib Diarra andChemsdine Talbi coming in.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Ballard, Talbi, Brobbey, Alderete, Mandava, Diarra, Mukiele, Sadiki, Le Fee, Hume

Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Geertruida, Rigg, Mayenda, O'Nien, Mundle, Isidor, Jones

Burnley make one alteration to the starting XI from their 2-2 draw against Tottenham in the English top flight nine days ago, with Lyle Foster taking the place of Armando Broja

James Ward-Prowse, who joined the Clarets on loan from West Ham last week, is on the substitute's bench.

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Esteve, Tuanzebe, Ugochukwu, Foster, Edwards, Athony, Humphreys, Florentino, Pires

Subs: Weiss, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Tcaouna, Flemming, Ward-Prowse, Broja, Mejbri, Laurent

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you what still needs to happen before the transfer window closes at 19:00 GMT on Monday.

Here are some of your comments:

Andie: We need a proven goalscorer at Premier League level - if only for the rest of our time in the Premier League. We make enough chances but fail to put them away game after game.

Fiona: We need someone who can score but decent strikers aren't for sale. So why are our best ones warming the bench? I'd get rid of the dregs of Kompany's spending spree as they're a waste of wages.

Phil: Not bother wasting money on transfers that will not serve them well in the championship next season. Offloading squad members that have not offer anything. Write off this season with a view to making lo ger term progress with recruitment and a cohesive plan.

Simon: We absolutely need a right-sided centre-back, but in an ideal world we would also be able to bring in another central midfielder and possibly either another winger or striker.

Andytom: We need a defender, a goalkeeper who controls his area, a defensive midfielder and a striker. All we have so far is Ward-Prowse and that is not enough. Both our academy sides are struggling so no help is coming from there. It looks like our horrible yo-yo existence will continue.

David: I'm so disappointed in Pace. He seems to think late deals are good, but in our predicament we needed signings early. Unfit signings are no good when you need them urgently. Unless we get a striker that knows where the goal is, we are done for. We have to win half our games left. We bought badly in the summer. Pace needs to sell up.

Ask us questions about Burnley and we'll put them to our experts

I relegated Wolves a few weeks back now - and I am afraid to say I think Burnley are down now too.

They performed with great spirit against Spurs when I was at Turf Moor last week, but it was another game they did not win.

Clarets boss Scott Parker said afterwards they need to change draws into victories, and of course he is right - but doing that is clearly difficult for them.

They were 2-1 up against Tottenham and so nearly got over the line for the first time since the end of October - but then came Cristian Romero's late equaliser, and you start to think they are never going to manage it.

Burnley have won only three league games all season, and one of them came at home to Sunderland in August.

The Black Cats will be without Granit Xhaka again, which is a big blow - they certainly missed him at West Ham.

But Sunderland's home form is still so impressive, and it would be a major turn-up if they dropped points here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

See how Sutton has done across the rest of the weekend

Today is the final chance of the season for your Premier League team to do transfer business.

The window closes at 19:00 GMT, meaning teams - and fans - can avoid the usual late-night transfer scramble.

It has already been a busy window - for some teams anyway - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Burnley are looking to complete their first league double over Sunderland since 1972-73 on Monday night. However, these two promoted sides have experienced contrasting fortunes since the Clarets won 2-0 at Turf Moor in August.

Stuttering Sunderland still have records in their sights

Sunderland's fantastic first half of the season has been tempered by two defeats in three matches, as many as in their previous 13. Head coach Regis le Bris lamented last week's performance away to West Ham as being "too far from our standards"; Sunderland were, unusually, outfought – a 42.3% duel success rate was their lowest of the season.

Nonetheless, the Black Cats are yet to fall to consecutive league losses this season and are the only side in the division still unbeaten at home. Their 11-match run without defeat equals the longest by a promoted team from the start of a Premier League, set by Ipswich in 1992-93.

The only promoted side to have a longer unbeaten home spell at any stage of a Premier League season is Birmingham City, spanning 15 games in 2009-10.

Notwithstanding their current wobble, a Sunderland win on Monday would put them on course for one of the highest Premier League tallies by a promoted team in a 38-game season.

Battling Burnley falling behind

Ten points from safety before the weekend, Burnley's immediate return to the Championship looks inevitable. They're still fighting – drawing five of their past seven league matches – but have gone 14 without a win since October. The Clarets have only once endured a longer top-flight winless run: 19 games, which ended way back in 1890.

The 2-0 home win over Sunderland in August is one of only six league fixtures in which Burnley have led this season. Too often, Scott Parker's side have been left playing catch-up – they have trailed in 19 matches, drawing five and losing 14.

Tottenham's late equaliser last weekend was the seventh league goal conceded by Burnley in the 90th minute or later this season. It leaves Scott Parker with a record of 12 wins, 44 defeats and 55 points from his 75 Premier League matches as a manager – only Mick McCarthy had a worse record at the same stage.

It's transfer deadline day tomorrow, with the window closing at 19:00 GMT.

How would you assess Burnley's window? Do you think any position needs more attention? If so, give us names of who should be brought in. And what about who needs to go?

Get in touch with your views here

Burnley, along with Italian Serie A sides Juventus and Napoli, are interested in Raheem Sterling, who has left Chelsea by mutual agreement. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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