STRIKERS

THE chops and changes up front - through reasons enforced or otherwise - have not been conducive to getting the front men firing.

A hamstring injury to record signing Andre Gray meant a second start for Rouwen Hennings, and a first time up front with Sam Vokes from the off.

That was the fifth different combination up front in just 10 league and cup games so far this season.

Burnley will only get the best out of the strikers when the same front two gets a run of games together and the opportunity to build an understanding develops. Hopefully that will bring about results.

JOEY BARTON

GAVE the crowd a lift when he was brought on for his Burnley debut just before the hour against Reading, and some much needed ingenuity in midfield.

It is no coincidence that the Clarets got a goal back not long after, and boot for the intervention of Reading’s Burnley-born Oliver Norwood on the line from Sam Vokes might have clawed back a point.

Barton’s presence allowed Scott Arfield to return to the wing, where he has always looked better for Burnley.

There is every chance the former Queens Park Rangers midfielder’s full debut will come at Rotherham on Friday.

POSSESSION

IN the only two games Burnley have lost this season they have bossed the ball on both occasions.

Conversely, they did not see as much of it against Brentford, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday or MK Dons, when they recorded four wins on the spin.

It just goes to show that it does not matter how much possession you have, it’s what you do with the ball when you get it that counts.

And Burnley did not do enough with the ball to extend their unbeaten run, against Reading, on Saturday.

Hopefully they can put that right at the New York Stadium when they make the trip to Rotherham in front of the Sky cameras on Friday night.