Clarets set for Canaries test
Having beaten Bradford City last month, Burnley now face a tough test in the FA Youth Cup tonight with a fourth round tie against Norwich City at Turf Moor.
Norwich come to Turf Moor having beaten Watford 5-1 in the previous round but their coach David Wright is expecting a tough game.
“It was an excellent performance (against Watford) and we’re looking to give the boys the information they need to do that again,” he said. “They carried out our plan perfectly that day, and I thought they were very good. Watford started 3-4-3 whereas Burnley are 4-4-2, an image of their first team who work hard and show real togetherness.”
He added: “I’ expecting a really tough game. We had an in-house game against Colchester recently so the boys have got some work into their legs. When the group gets on, it’s a real extra. They’re close knit and that shows on occasions like this, so they’re really looking forward to it, as are the coaching staff. Hopefully we turn up, perform to the best of our abilities and get a positive result.
The winners will face an away game against QPR or Tottenham in the fifth round. Their fourth round tie is due to be played next Tuesday, 10th January.
Michael Duff, now youth team coach at Burnley, is aware that this is expected to be a much tougher game than we encountered in the previous round but feels that his players, getting a second outing at Turf Moor, will be somewhat more relaxed.
“For us it’s a free hit now,” he said. “There was a little bit of pressure against Bradford because people expected us to go through. Against Norwich you are relating it to the first team playing against one of the top, top teams in the Premier League.
“We will go into it with a belief that we can win, but as long as we produce a performance and the players can look at themselves in the mirror after the game and say they gave it everything, that’s all we’re asking for.”
He added: “Hopefully they will be a little bit more comfortable in the environment and some of them have had exposure with the under-23s, playing against some top opposition there in the Premier League Cup.
“The Youth Cup is a big thing. Luckily we got through the last round and this is going to be a tough, tough game. There’s no getting away from the fact. Norwich are one of the top academies in the country and I think they are the only team to have won it in the last five years, other than Chelsea, so it’s going to be a test.”
Kick off tonight is 7 p.m.
Follow UpTheClarets:
Share this page :