Will Burnley’s new start succeed without Sean Dyche?
There are things in football that you thought would never happen. During the week, for example, Sean Dyche was relieved of his duties at Burnley FC. The 50-year-old had been at the helm of the Clarets since October 2012 and led them all the way to the Premier League. Despite a long-term contract until 2025, the club’s management now decided to part ways prematurely. Some players and their own fans reacted in shock…
While there is no consensus in the Reds camp as to whether this move was really necessary, it will be interesting to see how the relegation-threatened club perform in game one of the post-Dyche era on Sunday afternoon. The fact is that in the West Ham vs Burnley clash, the lower odds are clearly being offered on the home win. No wonder, because the mood at the Londoners is really good.
David Moyes’ side progressed to the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday night thanks to a commanding away win at Olympique Lyon, where they will now face Eintracht Frankfurt. In addition, the Hammers are watching with delight as rivals Arsenal and Tottenham for the last vacant Champions League spot lost their matches on Saturday. Should a prediction of a home win between West Ham and Burnley on Easter Sunday pay off, the capital club should even be quietly dreaming of the top flight again.
West Ham – Statistics & current form
While West Ham United often belonged to the mediocre in the English Premier League in recent years, the traditional club from the capital has taken a positive development in the meantime. After finishing sixth last year, the Hammers are preparing to cross the finish line even higher this season. Even though they are currently in seventh place, this chance is definitely there.
At the moment, the Londoners are only six points off fourth place and the Champions League qualification that goes with it. But it is not only in the league that the Moyes team can hope for the right to start in the top flight; in the event of a triumph in the Europa League, the English would also be among the big players in the coming season. However, with the Europa League semi-final first leg not taking place next week, the coach will probably be able to field his best starting eleven on Easter Sunday.
Will the Hammers extend their good home streak?
Apart from that, there are other aspects that justify the lower odds on the home win in the West Ham vs Burnley clash. For example, the Irons have won eight of their last nine home Premier League games against teams in a relegation spot before the start of a matchday, picking up 25 points from a possible 27.
In addition, they have always managed at least one goal in their past 17 PL home games. With four wins from their last five league games at home and 13 points collected in that period, the home record is also very good. Only five other teams have taken more points at home than the Londoners, who will once again be relying on Michail Antonio.
The attacker has scored the Hammers’ last three goals against Burnley, but has now gone twelve Premier League games without a goal of his own. Only between March and November 2018 did the Jamaican wait longer to score in English football’s top flight. Given Antonio’s lack of form, even more will likely come down to Jarrod Bowen, who currently leads the team in both goals (nine) and assists (eight). Ogbonna and Zouma are definitely out.
Predicted West Ham line-up:
Fabianski; Johnson, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio
Last matches played by West Ham:
Premier League
17/04/2022 – West Ham 1 – 1 Burnley
Europa League Final Stage
15/04/2022 – Lyon 0 – 3 West Ham
Premier League
10/04/2022 – Brentford 2 – 0 West Ham
Europa League Final Stage
08/04/2022 – West Ham 1 – 1 Lyon
Premier League
03/04/2022 – West Ham 2 – 1 Everton
Burnley – Statistics & current form
For nine and a half years Sean Dyche was the coach in charge of Burnley FC. In this time he led the Clarets not only in the Premier League, but even to Europe. In the current season, however, the 50-year-old could no longer fulfil the expectations of the club’s management. Eight matchdays before the end of this season, the rather surprising dismissal was announced. According to initial reactions, not everyone in the team or among the supporters was happy about this decision. Quite the opposite.
For the upcoming away game in the capital, U23 coach Michael Jackson will now be in charge. In close coordination with the academy director, the U23 goalkeeping coach and captain Ben Mee, the aim is to ensure the best possible preparation for this match, although the new interim team only had one day after the Dyche separation was announced. Under these flawed circumstances, it would be very risky to place a bet on the visitor between West Ham and Burnley.
How do the Clarets present themselves in Game 1 without Dyche?
Furthermore, if you look at the purely sporting facts, it also takes a lot of imagination to believe in an away treble on Easter Sunday. Burnley have lost five of their last six Premier League matches and have gone without a goal of their own in all of those five encounters.
Worse still, the team’s real strength, working against the ball, has not been working particularly well either recently. In each of the past six matches, keeper Pope has had to make at least two saves. In view of this, it may even be an option to venture a prediction on the home side’s handicap success in the West Ham vs Burnley clash.
Complicating matters further is the fact that playing co-coach and captain Ben Mee may not be able to line up himself as he continues to suffer from a knee injury. Without the defensive leader, the chances of a surprise are further diminished, especially as Erik Pieters and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will also be unavailable.
Predicted Burnley line-up:
Pope; Roberts, Collins, Tarkowski, Taylor; Lennon, Westwood, Brownhill, Cornet; Rodriguez, Weghorst
Last matches played by Burnley:
Premier League
17/04/2022 – West Ham 1 – 1 Burnley
10/04/2022 – Norwich 2 – 0 Burnley
07/04/2022 – Burnley 3 – 2 Everton
02/04/2022 – Burnley 0 – 2 Manchester City
12/03/2022 – Brentford 2 – 0 Burnley
West Ham – Burnley Direct comparison / H2H record
One of the few small glimmers of hope for the Clarets can be found in the head-to-head record. After all, the claret have won two of their last four appearances at the Irons, exactly as many as in their previous 21 league away games at West Ham (four draws, 15 defeats). It is also interesting to note that the Hammers have failed to score in five of their last eight direct encounters with Burnley. However, we think it is highly unlikely that this trend will continue on Sunday.
West Ham – Burnley Tip
While two hours later and only a few kilometres away at Wembley Stadium the second semi-finalist in the FA Cup will be determined between Chelsea and Crystal Palace, the Premier League match between West Ham and Burnley will take place at London Stadium from 15:30. According to the betting odds, it would be a surprise if the Clarets were to take something tangible away from the capital.
The relegation-threatened club caused a stir on Good Friday when they sacked long-serving manager Sean Dyche. While under normal circumstances one could assume that a change on the sidelines would once again release new forces, in our eyes this is somewhat different with the Wine Reds. The reason is the great merits of the coach and the close ties to the squad, which could sometimes lead to the downward trend of recent weeks not being stopped.
Burnley have lost five of their last six Premier League matches, going without a goal of their own on five occasions and conceding at least two goals in all six encounters. The Irons, who have won four of their last five home games and picked up 13 points in that period, will have their work cut out for them.
