Burnley

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Burnley "have to stop playing out from the back" if they want to improve their form this season, according to former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison.

The Clarets slipped out of the FA Cup third round, after suffering their fifth defeat in seven matches in all competitions.

"Sometimes you have to change it," Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"There's a time and a place when you can play like that. They are not good enough to play out from the back at the moment. It's been proven this season where we have seen them concede lots of goals.

"I understand that Vincent Kompany wants to play like that and that it is his philosophy but, when you don't have the players to do that, then I don't think you should do it and you should try to change it.

"So, going forward in the Premier League, I would try to go back to front. I'm not saying that you have to do it all the time, there will be times when you can play out from the back, but it's just putting them under big pressure at the moment."

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Burnley boss Vincent Kompany speaking to ITV: "I've never known the mood of the camp to be joyful after a defeat but, we are disappointed with the result of course. But I have said to the lads about key moments. I think we have earned the right to be in those games, to compete in those types of games.

"At the start of the season, the gap was too big but recently we are competing. What we need to do now is bring that final bit. If you concede a goal like we did today, sometimes you have to shake hands and say: 'A top goal' and that's it.

"We have got to take our chances. You play against a top team like we did and they have chances as well, so it is always also credit to them."

On the goal Burnley conceded: "I look back at it and think it was 0-0, we were trying to go for the win. There was acres of space but we were having one of our best players on the ball receive that pass. Then, what follows, how can you expect that?

"For me the goal starts with the set piece. We are normally so aggressive on second balls but for this one we took a step back, then the counter came, then the turn over and the goal later on.

"Those are the moments that in the Premier League you get punished. Our players are working very hard every day to get to the level, to develop. It's such a good group to work with and we keep going."

On not getting over the line in enough games: "If you watch us at the beginning of the season, you would be surprised because it was an improvement. In our last 12 games that is how it has looked. Some games we create more chances, even clearer chances.

"We'll just have to keep working. The training ground is a beautiful place to get things to improve and our focus is there. We are looking forward to the next game."

On the lighter schedule: "I don't mind a lot of games. We were used to that in the Championship. I think the more games the better, we get used to playing and living those games and eventually it will turn around. We have been too good consistently to not believe that it will turn around at some point."

Michael Emons, BBC Sport

Burnley suffered their fifth loss in seven matches as they were beaten by Tottenham to end the Clarets' involvement in the FA Cup.

Vincent Kompany made five changes, including in goal, and his side are now left to focus on their main target of staying in the Premier League.

Back-up keeper Arijanet Muric was at fault for the only goal of the game as his throw saw Zeki Amdouni lose possession with Pedro Porro firing in a superb strike from 25 yards out.

But Muric nearly redeemed himself in dramatic style right at the end. He went up for two corners and on the second one, in the seventh minute of additional time, flicked on the ball with a near post header, only for Amdouni to fire over when unmarked with the volley six yards out.

However, the Clarets can have no complaints about the result, with Tottenham dominating throughout most of the second half before Porro's goal.

Burnley now have more than a week to prepare for what could be one of the biggest games of their season when they entertain fellow Premier League strugglers Luton Town at Turf Moor on 15 January.

Tottenham beat fellow Premier League side Burnley to move into the fourth round of the FA Cup thanks to Pedro Porro's stunning strike.

Without club captain Son Heung-min, who has joined up with South Korea before the Asian Cup, the hosts failed to convert a number of chances before the breakthrough in the 78th minute.

Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric threw the ball out, but Porro won a challenge and then arrowed a superb shot into the top corner from 25 yards out for what proved to be a wonderful first goal for the club since his summer arrival from Sporting.

The Clarets' best chance fell to Zeki Amdouni in the first half when it was goalless, but he could only shoot over from a central position inside the penalty area.

The defeat, the Clarets fifth in seven matches in all competitions, leaves Vincent Kompany's side - 19th in the Premier League - to focus on trying to avoid relegation.

The draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup will take place at 19:50 GMT on Monday, 8 January, before the Wigan Athletic v Manchester United match.

Were you at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or following the match from elsewhere?

Tottenham supporters - submit your post-match thoughts here

How did you rate the performance of your team, Burnley fans?

Follow all the reaction here

There is less than an hour to go before Tottenham host Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup.

Follow all the action live here

And you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary here

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round will take place on Monday, 8 January before the third-round tie between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, which is being televised by ITV.

The 16 fourth-round games will be scheduled across the weekend of Saturday, 27 January.

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 FA Cup ties and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this weekend's matches he is up against singer-songwriter and Liverpool fan Banners.

Sutton's prediction: 4-3

Tottenham have still got a long injury list and are also without Son-Heung min who is away at the Asian Cup, but Burnley boss Vincent Kompany might well be focused fully on the Premier League, even though I think they are down anyway. There might be some goals there.

Banners' prediction: 3-0

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany says he "doesn't make a distinction" between league and cup matches as his side prepare to face Tottenham in the FA Cup third round on Friday.

The Clarets travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the back of four losses in their past six Premier League games, but Kompany sees the cup tie as another opportunity to test themselves against one of the country's biggest teams.

"To be brutally honest, it is the best possible draw," Kompany said in his pre-match news conference.

"You can have these kinds of draws in the quarter-finals, when you have done X amount of games [to get that far] and you have played against League Two clubs and League One clubs. It is better to have the outcome of these games early, for us.

"Game one - if you win the game you can hope for a positive cup run and carry on. If you don't win the game then you move on back to the league.

"I am embracing the challenge anyway, but I am not saying it is a bad draw. It is the right draw at the right time.

"I don't make a big distinction about the fact it is an FA Cup game or a Premier League game - you have the opportunity to play against one of the best teams in England, which is the best league in the world. So that means a lot.

"I am treating it as an important game for us to continue measuring ourselves against these teams. That is something for me that is important."

Nat Hayward, BBC Sport

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Friday's visit to Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Kompany says facing Spurs is the "best possible draw", adding: "It's better to have these type of games early for us. If we win the game we can hope for a positive draw and a cup run if you lose you can get on with the league."

• More on the draw: "For where we are now, this is better. These moments are the moments you want in a cup game, it's only when you go through these rounds you know if you'll have a cup run. For us it's better early. If we win this I'd be very disappointed if any other team knocks us out."

• On Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou: "I've been aware (of him) for a long time, before he even got to Japan. I'm not surprised, he's probably done it in the hardest way. His character and personality - he can show you in many moments why he's been successful without him having to talk about football."

• On his side's recent upturn in performances: "It's just building up the finer details in this league and being aware of key moments. The best way to learn is by getting hurt by it first and feeling the reward when you wisen up to it. We've done some things really well but without the points there is always the void."

• Kompany said that he has sat down with the chairman and recruitment team to discuss January deals and the club are doing their "homework and research" but there is currently "nothing obvious at the moment that stands out that could drastically change our season".

• "hen asked about the support of Clarets fans, Kompany said: "Wonderful year, difficult season - it's a bit of both. We want to give them moments and a succession of memories that creates a bond. Everything we do in training is to give them more of those moments in the future."

Some 14 FA Cup ties will be available to either watch or listen to live on the BBC over third round weekend, which runs from 4 January to 8 January.

We'll bring you four televised matches across BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Red Button - with all also available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app.

And you'll also be able to listen to 12 commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Thursday, 4 January

• Crystal Palace v Everton (20:00) - 5 Live

Friday, 5 January

• Fulham v Rotherham United (19:30) - 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Burnley (20:0) - 5 Live

Saturday, 6 January

• Millwall v Leicester City (12:30) - 5 Sports Extra

• Sunderland v Newcastle United (12:45) - 5 Live

• Gillingham v Sheffield United (15:00) - 5 Live

• Southampton v Walsall (15:00) - 5 Sports Extra

• Middlesbrough v Aston Villa (17:30) - 5 Live

• Chelsea v Preston (17:30) - 5 Sports Extra

Sunday, 7 January

• Peterborough v Leeds United (14:00) - 5 Live

• Luton Town v Bolton Wanderers (14:00) - 5 Sports Extra

Monday, 8 January

• Wigan v Manchester United (20:15) - 5 Live

All kick-off times listed are GMT

• Tottenham have won five of their seven FA Cup ties against Burnley. Their most recent victory was after a third-round replay in the 2014-15 season.

• The Clarets have lost 10 of their past 11 matches at Spurs, since a 4-1 win in the League Cup in January 1983.

• Tottenham have progressed through from 16 of their past 17 FA Cup third-round ties, with the exception being a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in 2013-14.

• Burnley's past six FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition have produced a total of 28 goals - an average of 4.7 goals per game.

Natalie Bromley, No Nay Never podcast, external

Many hours have now passed since Saturday's game at Aston Villa and I could still write a dissertation on how the game played out - injustices, needless red cards and how Burnley found some fight that has been missing for large parts of this season.

However, it's a new year and a time when we are encouraged to leave out the old and ring in the new. So, we leave my annoyance at VAR and referring inconsistencies in 2023 and instead focus on what 2024 should bring for the Clarets.

It is difficult to to vocalise what fan expectations should be when we don't really know what the club's expectations are.

Vincent Kompany talked this week about the "price" the team will pay for allowing James Trafford the freedom to learn in this league. That, to me, suggests the club is treating this season as a bonus opportunity to allow the manager and his squad a chance to learn how to manage/play in the Premier League.

If relegation back to the Championship is our fate, then the fans will handle that a lot better if we go down with a fight. So I suggest the following new year resolutions may be in order:

• Make sure the spirit on display in the last 35 mins of the Boxing Day game against Liverpool, which carried into the Villa match, continues;

• Put two results together - wins ideally - because we have yet to follow any result with anything other than a defeat;

• And bring in some experience in defence.

Do those three things and you just never know what this league might throw up.

Burnley winger Manuel Benson, 26, is in talks with Hull City after the clubs verbally agreed a loan deal until the end of the season. (Hull Daily Mail), external

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

We asked you what transfer business you want to see Burnley do in January.

Here are some of your answers:

Noah: Burnley have been on a bit of a downfall this season but if we should buy any players I would say Nathan Tella from Bayer Leverkusen and Ian Maasten from Chelsea. Burnley also need to start using Arijanet Muric more. I know they paid a lot for James Trafford, but Muric is being neglected. He is a good keeper and deserves time on the field.

Jack: We need a better defence, a quality striker and a playmaker. All more experienced than what we've got now. Oh, and we need Alan Pace to sell the club.

Tod: 1) Don't sell Manuel Benson. That's madness on many levels. 2) We either need Hjalmar Ekdal fit or to bring in another centre-back with quality. Ideally send Hannes Delcroix back. 3) We need to bring in at least one Premier League quality striker. 4) We need a better balance of experience in the squad.

Bob: Definitely a decent striker and our defence needs strengthening - so one or more experienced players. Our chances of avoiding relegation without a few more players are looking very unlikely.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley have recalled defender Owen Dodgson from his loan spell at League One side Barnsley.

The 20-year-old made 15 appearances for the Oakwell club, the last in a 2-2 draw at Peterborough United on 29 December.

Image source, Reuters

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany said he has taken "immense joy" in seeing Lyle Foster return to action in recent weeks following a spell away from the game to receive treatment for a mental health issue.

The Clarets said in November that Foster was "in the care of specialists" and the South Africa forward missed eight games.

He scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss at Aston Villa, after which Kompany said: "[My feeling is] immense joy very specifically for Lyle Foster's situation. We were dealing with a human tragedy really... such a good lad as well.

"To see him get back up, and just enjoying the game - not even the goal, just enjoying the game - being out there on the pitch with his team-mates, smiling after the game. For me, I can go away from being a manager, just as a human being, I'm really happy to be part of this moment.

"When you go through this at a club, as human beings, and you see him come out the other end of it, all I hope is he is going to stay like this. That's all I want. I can take a lot of joy out of witnessing it."

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport

Southampton are one of a number of sides interested in a January loan move for Burnley winger Manuel Benson.

The 26-year-old was a star performer in the Clarets' Championship title triumph last season, but has found game time in the Premier League a struggle, making only four appearances.

Now the Saints are looking to see if they can agree a deal for the Belgian, but BBC Sport understands Burnley will not be sanctioning a move to St Mary's.

Nathan Tella was on loan at Turf Moor from Southampton last season, scoring 19 goals for the club, but a permanent deal could not be agreed for the Nigeria international and he ended up joining Bayer Leverkusen.

Southampton are third in the Championship, three points adrift of an automatic promotion place, and Benson could add firepower to a side aiming for an immediate return to the top flight.

With the transfer window about to open again, we want to know what business you think Burnley need to do.

Who should they buy? Who should they sell? And who should they keep?

Have your say here

We asked you for your thoughts after Aston Villa and Burnley battled it out at Villa Park.

Here are some of the top comments:

Aston Villa fans

Steve: Joint top - unbelievable. Living the dream. Don't know how long it will last but enjoying the ride. If we learn to keep clean sheets and take chances, who knows?

Will: These are the kind of games that define a season. We passed the test. We are still in this race.

Tim: Glad for the win but we have been found out by other teams now. We should be taking three points every time against the bottom clubs. Defence was tired and shaky and Watkins was not getting enough service. Maybe get some fresh blood in the transfer window.

Mary: After missing so many good chances we got lucky with a soft penalty and a much-needed three points. Our defensive high line continues to create nervous tension, but in Unai we trust.

Burnley fans

BGS: Overall, generally very good across the park compared with a few other away performances. Looked reasonably solid, albeit they carved us open a number of times and on another day we’d have been buried. We’re a miles better team with Foster and Odobert in the side as they offer a direct threat. Remain positive though as I think we’ll nick a few wins in the second half of the season.

Jack: Must admit, 100% effort - even though that's not good enough. Sorry Kompany, I'm now saying what many said of Dyche. Change or go - stop being so stubborn.

George: Foster, Vitinho and Trafford - brilliant. The ref not so much. How is that not a handball? The performances are getting better, but is it enough? Not yet!

John: Once again robbed by a pitifully poor refereeing decision and lack of a genuinely analytical VAR review. We will go down this season not because of our performances but because of officials failing repeatedly to judge lesser teams as they do the bigger ones.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley

• Nottingham Forest 2-1 Manchester United