By Longsider
November 25 2003

Burnley take on Reading tonight in a clash vital to both sides but for different reasons. The Clarets need the points to get away from the bottom area of the table whilst a win for Reading would push them into the top 6. Burnley take on Reading tonight needing 3 points to break the poor run the side is currently on. Since Walsall, back at the start of October, we haven't won a game and have seen us drop from 8th to 18th but more importantly the side is just 4 points off the relegation zone.

Reading have become a bit of bogey side for the Clarets with only one Home win in the last seven matches, this came back in our promotion season, on kids for a quid day, when we beat the Royals 3-0. Last season's game is one that most Burnley fans will remember for a while as we were soundly beaten 5-2, back in February, with John Salako netting two of the visitors goals. This freak result was the only defeat the Clarets suffered in a period stretching from Christmas to the FA Cup tie at Watford.

The game will be an interesting one to either Glen Little or Luke Chadwick, dependant on fitness and selection, as both of them played for Reading last season. Glen was loaned out in very strange circumstances towards the end of the season with many fans disgusted at the clubs decision. He stayed with Reading until the end of their campaign when they beaten by Wolves in the Play Offs before returning back to the Turf. The club said they saved a £100,000 on loaning Glen out but i do wonder how many people they lost through the gates because of the move.

Chadwick arrived at Reading on a 3 month loan deal in February and played in 17 games for the Berkshire side with his one goal coming in his first game against Gillingham.

The Clarets injury problems are, thankfully, improving with every game. Alan Moore is the only long term casualty at the club with Paul Weller having made a return to the bench on Saturday. Chadwick is expected to fit enough for at least the bench tonight. We believe everyone else came through Saturday's draw relatively unscathed.

The visitors are missing a couple of players tonight with Adrian Williams and Steve Brown both missing from the defence. Darius henderson is also out and so is Shaun Goater. The injury to Goater will come as a big relief to Burnley fans who all know too well the Goat's incredible scoring record at Burnley.

With a few players returning back to the side and the loss of form of a number of players it would be hard to believe that Ternent won't make changes tonight. I think he'll replace Moore with Facey and possibly Chadwick for Litte.

Possible team:
Jenson, West, May, Gnohere, Camara, Chadwick, Grant, Chaplow, Branch, Facey, Blake.

Subs: I.Moore, Little, Weller, Roche, McGregor.

The referee for the game is Mike Pike from Cumbria.