Burnley preview with Alex James, Lancashire Telegraph

In-form Burnley are next up in the Premier League on Saturday (12.30pm) - we turned to Alex James, Sports Editor at the Lancashire Telegraph, for his insight on what we can expect from the Clarets at Turf Moor in our latest ‘Preview from the Press Box’.

Burnley’s form

Alex: “They’re currently seven Premier League games unbeaten which is a Premier League record for Burnley – I think it was 1975 the last time they went this many games unbeaten in the top division. So, since they lost to Everton on Boxing Day when they were poor and beaten 5-1, they’ve really turned it around. They’ve beaten a couple of teams that are in and around them in Huddersfield and Fulham. They earned a really good point away at Manchester United and had a great win at Brighton last time out. They just seem to have found that resilience that is associated with Sean Dyche teams and got back to basics a little bit.

"Tom Heaton’s come back in goal and he brings a calmness and a bit more a structure to the back line. They do look a bit more comfortable at the back. They were leaking goals left, right and centre earlier in the season which is very unlike Burnley, but they’ve also started scoring goals as well. The front two (Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes) are in good form at the moment. I think Wood has six goals in nine games and Barnes has got four in six, so having two strikers that are in such good form makes such a difference to a team when you are in the bottom third of the Premier League."

Burnley’s key men

Alex: “I would imagine that Spurs are going to have more of the possession, more of the ball and generally more of the play, so Tom Heaton will be important. At Brighton, he made two or three world-class saves and he’s been in brilliant form since he’s come back in. So he’ll be important, especially with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Heung-Min Son and those kinds of players who are going to be a threat for Spurs.

“At the other end, Ashley Barnes. I don’t think anyone, no matter who you are, whether you’re an international footballer or someone making their Premier League debut, would like to play against him. He doesn’t let opponents rest, he’s physical, he chases lost causes and he’s just one of those players that if he’s on your team you absolutely love him as a supporter and I can imagine, if he’s not on your team, then he’s probably the subject of quite a bit of grief!”

The key area

Alex: “I was trying to work out what sort of formation Spurs might go with because they are pretty fluid in the attacking areas, but I think it will be the midfield where it will be crucial because Burnley are going to have to work hard. If they go 4-4-2, which they usually do, they could find themselves outnumbered in that midfield area, so it’s going to be Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood working hard, getting through the phases and protecting that Burnley back four from the obvious threats that Spurs carry.”

Prediction

Alex: "I’m always optimistic from a Burnley point of view in these predictions so I’ll go for a 1-1 draw. Spurs struggled to break Burnley down at Wembley earlier in the season - it was the 91st minute when Eriksen scored the winner and Burnley are adept at being solid and resolute when they come up against teams. Given the form they’re in at the moment, I just fancy them. I think they might sneak a point."