Dons can Turf out Burnley
Coyle: Dons can banish Burnley if they feed off Turf Moor atmosphere
OWEN COYLE has watched Burnley become a Premier League force to be feared at Turf Moor.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham will all testify to that having come a cropper in Lancashire in recent years.
But former Clarets gaffer Coyle reckons that shouldn’t stop Aberdeen from believing they can leave with a famous win tomorrow.
Derek McInnes’s Reds travel south for the second leg of their Europa League second-round qualifier with the Battle of Britain tie still firmly in the balance after a 1-1 Pittodrie draw.
Coyle, who guided Burnley into the top flight in 2009, believes Dons have to feed off the electric atmosphere at Turf Moor and use it to spur them on.
The 52-year-old said: “Burnley are a terrific side. Sean Dyche has done a fantastic job with a brilliant club.
“The Clarets are similar to Aberdeen in the respect that the fans are very passionate and get right behind their team.
“The atmosphere at Turf Moor on Thursday night will be sensational.
“The Burnley fans over a number of years have turned their stadium into a real fortress and it’s a difficult place for all visiting sides – I’m even talking about the elite clubs in England.
“Any player going to Turf Moor will love that environment. The Aberdeen players should relish the atmosphere and feel inspired by it.
“Every player wants to play at the highest level and against the best players and the best teams.
“From an Aberdeen player’s perspective this is a chance to play against a team that finished in the top seven of the Premier League and for them to stand up and say we can play a bit ourselves – which they can. “Burnley may well have made it really difficult for some top names in the English game on their own patch. The tie is still evenly poised and Aberdeen are right in the mix. “If Aberdeen can start as well as they did in the first game then they can give themselves every chance. “I felt a draw over the piece was a fair result in the first leg in respect of what both teams brought to the table. It was a match-up of two very good, strong disciplined teams and the second leg will be no different.
“There are so many variables to this tie as well as the whole Scotland v England element to it.
“Aberdeen have been given the toughest test of all the Scottish European representatives but they are still alive and kicking.
“It has the makings of an outstanding match and one befitting of a European tie.”
Scottish football may have taken a battering from our neighbours south of the border in the lead-up to this clash but Coyle insists there is lots to enthuse about back home.
Having worked as a manager in both the Premiership and Premier League, Coyle reckons our game is on an upward trajectory and points to the arrival of Steven Gerrard as Rangers boss as another big moment.
The former Ross County boss said: “People will always have a pop at Scottish football, for whatever reason, but I have never entertained that notion.
“It’s the easiest thing in the world to be dismissive and negative about Scottish football.
“There’s a lot of quality in Scottish football and it will get better.
“Gerrard coming in at Rangers is a great thing.
“Derek McInnes at Aberdeen loses players every year but he still manages to maintain a challenge at the top end of the table.
“Hibs under Neil Lennon have been absolutely terrific as have Kilmarnock who have greatly impressed since Steve Clarke took charge at Rugby Park.
“There are a lot of good things happening in Scottish football and there seems to be loads of talented young kids coming through the ranks at all clubs.
Every player wants to play at the highest level and against the best teams OWEN COYLE
“Celtic have also flown the flag for Scottish clubs in Europe for many years now.
“Ideally we want other clubs like Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs to go on their own extended runs and bring in greater finance.
“We also need them to offer a stiffer challenge to Brendan Rodgers’s Celtic team at the top of the league.
“Scottish football has had some great periods and it has also endured some fallow times but hopefully now we are building towards something good.
“We all want Scottish football to be successful and for everybody to be singing its praises.
“Football is cyclical and I just happen to believe Scottish football is on the rise once more.”