KOPS AND ROBBERS
29% Burnley have proved they don’t need the ball to beat Liverpool!
STEPHEN WARD was part of the Burnley side that set a Premier League record in their victory against Liverpool in August – for the lowest share of possession for a winning side.
Sean Dyche’s men had just 29 per cent of the ball in the 2-0 triumph at Turf Moor – the lowest since Opta started recording key match data in 2003-04.
Not that anyone at Burnley is losing sleep over that, as the Clarets head for Anfield today.
Republic of Ireland fullback Ward said: “I was just absolutely delighted with the result to be honest, and the performance.
“We’re under no illusions. You hear the gaffer speaking about it all the time. We don’t do blind faith here.
“We’re more than likely not going to ever out-pass a Liverpool team and play total football and get a result. What we try to do is impose our game on teams,
and I think that’s what we did that day.
“The main prize for us is to stay in the Premier League. The last time we came up we gave it a good shot but for whatever reason we just weren’t good enough and it was disappointing. There’s been a real belief and hunger to make sure we stay here this time.
“If you ask any of our fans I’m hoping they’d be happy any time we win a game, regardless of how we play. And if we stay up it won’t matter again how we play.”
Burnley will have an unexpected bonus in their latest battle against the odds with Joey Barton available after an 11th-hour sick note from an FA bigwig postponed his disciplinary on betting charges.
Burnley were fearing a lengthy ban which would effectively end Barton’s Turf Moor career, with his contract only running until the end of the season.
But when one of the leading evidence investigators fell ill, Burnley refused the FA’S request for the hearing to go ahead with a replacement.
A new date could now be three to four weeks away, meaning that Barton (below) remains free to play in Burnley’s next few games.
He’s also overcome a hamstring strain to take part, as the Clarets look to boost a woeful away record that has seen them pick up two points from 13 games – in stark contrast to life at Turf Moor where they have 29 points from 14 matches. And Ward, 31, who scored the winner for one of his former sides Wolves at Anfield back in December 2010, is hoping the luck of the Irish will rub off this afternoon. Dyche has put together a strong Irish contingent which involves Kevin Long and recent big-money signings Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady.
“We’re trying to take over,” joked Ward. “When we signed Hendrick and Brady it was brilliant. They are lads I know well and good lads to have around the place, but very good players first and foremost.
“It shows how far the club has come and the direction it’s going – they were both very sought-after and to get them here is a big plus.”