A worrying situation for Burnley

It is very early in the Premier League campaign so it is hard to assess the current league table. New players and managers have not yet even settled in their new surroundings.

However, if a team starts a campaign in terrible form it can ruin a whole season. With that in mind, I come to Burnley. The Clarets have made a woeful start to their top-flight campaign and suddenly they look like a team who could struggle this season.

Poor form stemmed from last season

Burnley have picked up just one point in the English top-flight from five games, having lost their last four league games following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Wolves. To be fair to Wolves the scoreline was kind to Sean Dyche’s team.

The side from the Midlands could have easily added to that solitary goal if it were not for some good saves from Joe Hart and poor misses from the top-flight new boys.

This season’s poor form stems from a dip in form towards the end of last season for Dyche’s team, who we have to remember finished seventh place in the table.  In fact, the Clarets have now failed to win in ten Premier League games, suffering seven defeats in the process.

Dyche’s team have been so well drilled in the last few seasons. However, rather surprisingly the Clarets seem to have fallen apart in defence of late. The side from Lancashire has conceded at least twice in three of their last four league games.

Need a win and quickly

Dyche has talked about things turning around quickly. In football one victory can kick-start a team’s season. It does not matter how it is achieved either. The Clarets next few fixtures provide them with an opportunity to get back to winning ways.

The Lancashire side host Bournemouth at Turf Moor this weekend before games against Cardiff and Huddersfield. Although Bournemouth are in decent form, their recent away record is not great, while Cardiff and Huddersfield have struggled for points this season in the top-flight.

The next three games are the sort that the Clarets have to start winning if they are to avoid being stuck in the Premier League relegation dogfight. If Dyche’s side fails to win in the next three they could be in major trouble, as after that trio of games the Clarets face Manchester City and Chelsea.

Third favourites for relegation

In the last two seasons, I do not think that I have ever believed that Burnley would suffer relegation. The Clarets have just looked too well organised and solid to suffer the drop.

Their current position of bottom of the table does not look great on paper. However, the Clarets still have 33 games to rescue themselves from their current predicament

The bookmakers seem to believe that Burnley could suffer relegation this season, as they are now odds of 11/10 for relegation, which makes them third-favourites for the drop this season.

It would be a huge shame if Burnley continues to struggle in the top-flight, as Sean Dyche has done an excellent job at Turf Moor. The Clarets have become a fine example of what can be achieved by a small club by Premier League standards with a limited budget.

I really like Sean Dyche just for his completely no-nonsense approach to life and I hope his team can now start picking up results to move away from the relegation zone.

Are Burnley in for a relegation battle this season?