This Week's Opposition: Burnley

Kirsty Roxanne talks through the key names and numbers powering Pompey's next Championship opponent.

The Blues suffered a 2nd consecutive league defeat on home soil last time out, sending opponents West Bromwich Albion to the top of the Championship table in the process.

John Mousinho’s side now sit 23rd after their opening 5 games this campaign.

Another tough challenge faces the side this weekend as they head up North for a 576-mile round trip to relegated Premier league side Burnley.

Let’s take a closer look into the team we’re set to face at Turf Moor.

MANAGER

Head coach Scott Parker is at the helm for The Clarets.

Parker started his professional playing career as a midfielder at Charlton Athletic. He also played for the likes of Norwich City, Chelsea, Newcastle United - whom he captained - and West Ham United, where he was awarded FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2010/11 season. Then, after 50 appearances at Tottenham Hotspur, Parker joined Fulham in 2013.

He retired at the end of the 2016/17 season after 119 league matches for Fulham in both the Premier League and Championship.

Parker also represented England at every level from Under-16 to senior, making his full debut in 2003. Uniquely, he won his first 4 England caps while playing for 4 different clubs. Parker was also part of the squad that reached the Quarter-Finals at EURO 2012.

His first managerial stint saw him appointed caretaker manager of Fulham in February 2019 - Later that summer, he was hired on a permanent basis. In his first season in charge, he guided the team to promotion back to the Premier League after winning the Championship Play-Offs.

Following relegation, he left to join AFC Bournemouth in 2021 and again won promotion from the Championship in his first season. After a 9-0 loss to Liverpool in the club’s 4th league game of the season, he was dismissed and then hired by Club Brugge, where he was sacked after just 12 games in charge last March.

In July of this year, Parker was appointed as head coach of Burnley in the hopes of helping them to win promotion back to the top flight following relegation last season and the loss of Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch is left back Lucas Pires.

He started his career at Brazilian club Santos and enjoyed a loan spell at La Liga outfit Cádiz for the 2024/24 season. He scored his first professional goal in October, netting the opener in a 3-2 loss away at Atlético Madrid.

The 23-year-old joined Burnley as one of the club’s first signings since being relegated. Pires made his debut for the club in the opening game of the season against Luton Town, registering 2 assists.

He wears the number 23 shirt.

TOP SCORER

Since the campaign started 5 games ago, there have been 8 different goalscorers for Burnley.

2 occupy the joint-top goalscorer spot: Josh Brownhill and Luca Koleosho.

Midfielder Brownhill started his senior career at Preston North End and whilst at Preston, his goal against Carlisle won the club’s Goal of 2013 Award, after a 13-pass move in which every outfield player touched the ball at least once.

In 2016 he had a loan spell at League One Barnsley after his contract expired at Preston. Brownhill then went on to join Bristol City on a 2-year deal and signed for Burnley in 2020 with the club then in the Premier League.

Brownhill has scored 2 goals this season and wears the number 8 shirt.

Also scoring 2 goals this season is Luca Koleosho, who plays as a left wing or striker.

He played for Spanish side Espanyol as a reserve before making it into the first team squad. In July 2023, Koleosho joined Burnley and made his debut for The Clarets in a 3-0 league defeat to Manchester City.

The number 30 has already doubled his goal tally from last season.

CURRENT FORM

Parker’s side currently sit 4th in the table with their last 5 games producing 3 victories, 1 draw and 1 defeat - Their only defeat was against promotion Sunderland, who at the time were maintaining a 100% record.

Burnley are 3 points behind leaders West Brom but with a stronger goal difference.

Last season, The Clarets finished 19th in the Premier League after accumulating just 24 points, confirming their relegation back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The last time these sides met was back in 2012 when the Blues were defeated 5-1 at PO4.

Can Pompey pick up some points away from home in what should be another tough test for John Mousinho’s side?

Catch all of the unmissable action on Pompey Live this Saturday (September 21st) afternoon from 2pm - Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson will be on location in Lancashire.

Kick-off: 3pm!