Three talking points from Burnley's defeat at Fulham.

EURO EXERTION

PLAYERS and manager will tell you different but the Europa League is clearly taking its toll.

It’s not just the extra games - the trip to Craven Cottage was their eighth game in a month - but the travelling alone must be exhausting.

With one of the smallest squads in the division and they have played six more games than everyone else.

And that’s not to mention the two home legs that have gone to extra time.

On top of that, on their return from trips overseas, they have effectively just one day to prepare for a Premier League game, which when you consider both away games have been on the south coast and in the capital, it’s not enough.

And there’s the small matter of a home game against Manchester United to come after the Olympiakos re-match.

Burnley don’t want their Europa League experience to end before the group stages, but the international break can’t come soon enough if they are to get past the play-off then they can regroup and refresh.

TIME TO CLICK

BURNLEY have been noted for their organisation under Sean Dyche but something is just not clicking in that department in these early stages.

The usual continuity of selection has been disrupted by Europa League involvement, with the Clarets utilising their squad in order to give players game time and keep others fresh.

The manager has kept partnerships together, but the understanding just doesn’t seem to be there.

Burnley might have their strongest side out on Thursday to try to get the win - if not on aggregate then at least on the night would be a boost, and then they can try to build momentum from there.

GO IT ALONE

CHRIS Wood is struggling for an impact as a lone striker.

It is not a new role to him after having the responsibility a few times last season before Ashley Barnes broke into a front two. As a partnership Wood plays the channels quite well.

But on his own he is struggling to make the ball stick and bring others into play.