Burnley v Bournemouth preview: Clarets eye first win of the season

Burnley host in-form Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon looking to move off the bottom of the Premier League.

Sean Dyche's side must pick up a point at least against fifth-in-the-table Bournemouth to avoid suffering their worst start to a season, and Dyche admits his squad must rediscover their "DNA" to change their fortunes.

"I was expecting us to do better. But I can assure you records don't bother me because if you want to look at the positive records that we have had in the last five years I think they will outweigh that record if it should occur," he said.

"I concern myself with the team, how it is performing, how the individuals are performing. Is it moving forward, is it being effective? They are the things we have got to change.

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"It's not down to a lack of effort but there have been a couple of performances that have not been like us. That is the thing I have really been speaking to the players about.

"You have got to have a DNA if you like. You have got to have a feel how your group operate and we certainly have here.

"We have come away from that. There have been reminders of it - there have been a couple of very good performances where we should have dealt with the opposition and we haven't."

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Bournemouth, meanwhile, arrive at Burnley riding high in the table, although manager Eddie Howe has warned his players they will face tough test at Turf Moor.

"We have to go into every game and prove we're worthy of our start. We're always looking to push the team to the next step," said Howe.

"It's been a good start there is no denying that. We're happy with what we've done and delivered, but there is more to come. Individuals can do even better.

"When Burnley function well as a team they're very hard to beat. It's always special to go back to your former club.

"In terms of results Burnley haven't had the best start, but in terms of performances I think they've been good. This will be a very tough game."

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Team news

Burnley will be without defender Ben Gibson against Bournemouth after he underwent minor hernia surgery and is set to be sidelined for several weeks.

Midfielder Steven Defour and winger Robbie Brady continued their comebacks from long-term absences with appearances in a game at the training ground on Thursday, but are not yet ready for the first team.

Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels and midfielder Kyle Taylor are both fitness doubts for Saturday's clash. Left-back Daniels has been sidelined by a knee injury, while Taylor has picked up a calf problem so continues to be assessed.

Winger Junior Stanislas made a welcome return from a serious knee injury with a run-out in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday, so could feature in the squad.

Opta stats

• Each of the last six league encounters between Burnley and Bournemouth have seen both sides on the scoresheet, with both teams winning twice and scoring nine goals (D2).
• Both Burnley and Bournemouth have scored in each of their four Premier League contests; only Newcastle and Wolves have seen more games without a clean sheet in the competition (six games).
• Burnley have lost their last four Premier League games. They've never lost five in a row in the competition, last doing so in the top-flight back in January 1976.
• Bournemouth's haul of 10 points from their first five games is their best start to a league season since the 2009-10 League Two campaign, when they had 12.
• Bournemouth have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 Premier League away games, a 3-0 win at Chelsea in January.
• Burnley have faced a league-high 103 shots in the Premier League this season.
• Ryan Fraser has had a hand in 50% of Bournemouth's 10 Premier League goals this season (3 goals, 2 assists), while also creating more goalscoring opportunities for the Cherries than any other player (11).
• Defender James Tarkowski is Burnley's top scorer in the Premier League this season, scoring two goals from two shots on target.
• After failing to score in his first four league games against Burnley, Josh King has scored in each of his last three; only against Everton has the Bournemouth striker scored more goals.
• Bournemouth's Eddie Howe (since 11/10/2012) and Burnley's Sean Dyche (since 30/10/2012) are the current longest serving managers in the Premier League. They've each managed 119 games in the competition, with Howe winning 37 to Dyche's 32.

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Merson's prediction

This is a big game for Burnley after they were given the absolute run-around at Wolves. I've seen a lot of 1-0 defeats in my time but none as one-sided as that in a long time, it could have been a cricket score.

I said at the start of the season that Burnley wouldn't repeat the big results they got at the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham last season, and when you strip those points away the club that finished seventh last season, they could find themselves in a relegation battle.

This a big game for Burnley, they've got to come out and have a go. If they do though, Bournemouth are so quick on the break that they are going to score goals.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)

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