Sean Dyche's Burnley are the latest side under the microscope in our series of previews
BURNLEY
Home ground: Turf Moor
Capacity: 21,401
Manager: Sean Dyche
2014/15 league position: 19th (Premier League)
2014/15 top goalscorer: Danny Ings (11 in all competitions)
Returning to the second tier after a solitary season in the top flight, Sean Dyche’s Burnley side will no doubt be hoping to bounce back at the first time of asking during the coming campaign.
Promoted as runners-up behind Leicester City at the tail end of the 2013/14 season, the Clarets’ impressive form under the stewardship of Dyche earned them many admirers as they took to the Premier League for the first time since 2010.
A campaign which saw them win just seven times in the league however left the Turf Moor outfit five points adrift of safety come their final game of the campaign away at Aston Villa – a match which Burnley even picked up three points in courtesy of a Danny Ings strike.
They will however enter the new season without the services of said frontman, with the former Bournemouth striker having agreed terms with Liverpool in the summer.
The Clarets’ top goalscorer last year with eleven strikes in all competitions, Dyche and Burnley will now turn to Sam Vokes, a player who saw his 2014/15 season disrupted by injury with the 25-year-old only able to find the back of the net once in 19 outings.
With former Bolton forwards Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marvin Sordell at his disposal also however, Dyche will be hoping that the duo can rediscover their form in front of goal in the Championship this term.
With Steven Reid having announced his retirement alongside the departure of winger Ross Wallace, there will no doubt be business done by the Clarets during pre-season with an immediate return to the Premier League firmly etched in their minds.
MEDIA VIEW
Lancashire Evening Post's Burnley reporter Suzanne Geldard offers up her views on what people should expect from the Clarets during the coming campaign.
"Expectation is arguably greater for Burnley than it has been for a few years.
"Fans of most clubs have high hopes in August, and Burnley supporters are no different. But there probably would not have been too many who would have anticipated automatic promotion before a ball was kicked in 2013/14. Indeed, they were the favourites with some bookmakers to go down that season.
"Last year, in the Premier League, they were odds on again, and unfortunately the bookies were proved right on that occasion.
"But back in the Championship, and still coming down strong despite the loss of both Danny Ings and Kieran Trippier, the weight of expectation shifts.
"That will bring its own pressures, with most opponents raising their game against one of the more fancied teams in the division, . The stakes will be higher still in the derbies with Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers.
"But if Burnley can – as manager Sean Dyche hopes – keep the rest of the squad intact and add to it beyond the summer signing of right back Matt Lowton from Aston Villa, then there is no reason why the Clarets can’t bounce straight back up."
FIXTURES V BOLTON IN 2015/16:
Saturday 17 October 2015 – 3pm kick-off at Turf Moor
Saturday 27 February 2016 – 3pm kick-off at Macron Stadium
RESULTS V BOLTON IN 2013/14
Burnley 1-1 Bolton Wanderers – 3/8/2013 (CLICK HERE for highlights)
Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Burnley – 11/2/2014 (CLICK HERE for highlights)