Burnley v Bournemouth - Pete Oliver's big match preview

WHEN Bournemouth manager Mel Machin was on the Cherries' training ground this week plotting how to win at Burnley tomorrow, he won't have looked back to the first meeting between the two sides for many pointers.

Burnley were crushed 5-0 at Dean Court in November but they will be a different team tomorrow - literally.

Only three of the Clarets involved that game are likely to be on duty tomorrow as manager Stan Ternent's widespread changes, coupled to injuries and a suspension for Glen Little, will present a new set of problems for Machin's men.

And instead of facing a Burnley side slumping towards a winter of discontent, play-off candidates Bournemouth will come up against a rejuvenated outfit closing in on Second Division safety.

"It's just unfortunate we couldn't get most of these players in at the start of the season instead of after Christmas," admitted Clarets striker Andy Payton, whose goal-scoring form has been one of the few constants at Turf Moor this season.

"Bournemouth are in the play-offs. But it will be a good test for us and I think we will give them a good game," he added. And Burnley captain Gordon Armstrong is another who expects Bournemouth to find it harder going this time.

"I was injured and missed the game down there but the lads were disappointed.

"Steve Morgan got sent off and I think that changed the game.

"Obviously they are a good footballing side at home and after that they caused the lads a lot of problems.

"We are not going to go shouting our mouths off and say we are going to beat them or anything but we are a bit better side than we were then," said the skipper.

Steve Davis, Ally Pickering and Tom Cowan have been added to the Burnley defence since it was breached five times on Paul Crichton's debut on the south coast.

That was Burnley's fourth defeat in a row in a run which had seen them go out of the FA Cup and slump to 19th in the League.

With Brian Reid and Mark Robertson losing their places through injury, Chris Brass will be the sole survivor in the Clarets back line.

He had to bide his time to get back into his favoured central defensive position but Brass has enjoyed his best form of the season in the last seven games during which time Burnley have been beaten just once and conceded only seven games.

"It's nice to get at the back," confirmed Brass, who helped record a clean sheet in Burnley's mid-week win at Blackpool which took them five points clear of the drop zone.

"As I've said on previous occasions during the season due to personnel, injuries or whatever you have to play in various positions.

"But I'm happiest to be at the back and happy to be in the side, along with the fact that we are doing well and on a personal note I feel that I'm doing okay."

Ternent's midfield will have a complete new look with Micky Mellon, Lenny Johnrose and Paul Cook now in place.

Only Burnley's front line has a familiar ring about it now that Payton and Andy Cooke have been re-united.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.