Morecambe Bays for Clarets

The Clarets will be hoping to do better in their second pre-season friendly following a 2-1 defeat to League 2 side, Bradford City at Valley Parade last Saturday.

It's Tuesday July 14th today and tonight we face another League Two side,Morecambe at Christie Park (7:45 pm Kick-Off)

So a little trip to the Lancastrian coast before we embark on our US tour this Thursday and fly to California on the West Coast!

Burnley fans will be hoping for a better result and performance from the Clarets tonight after shaking off the cobwebs in our first match since Wembley against Bradford last Saturday.

This will no doubt be an opportunity to once more experiment with the team selection as Owen Coyle prepares the side for their first season in the top flight since 1976.

Last Saturday we effectively put out two teams, a different one in each half and all 20 of our named players managed to get a kick about against the Bantams.

We can expect more of the same tonight against the Shrimpers although this time we could also see Chris McCann and Chris Eagles feature. Both were rested on Saturday after picking up minor knocks in training.

This will also be another opportunity for our new signings, Tyrone Mears, Steven Fletcher and David Edgar to get used to their colleagues and their football playing style.

It is understood also that Hamilton defender, Brian Easton is close to signing for the club after having had a medical. However it might be too soon for him to feature tonight but it is hoped he will be leaving with the Clarets this week on their US tour.

No doubt, Sammy McIlroy's Morecambe will be up for this one, wanting to claim the pre-season scalp of a Premier League side.They will feel if fellow League Two side, Bradford can do it, so can they!

Although the results of these pre-season friendlies are not really that important as players try to build up to peak fitness and the gaffer experiments with team changes and tactics, it would still be a psychological boost both for the team and the fans if we can get a victory tonight and win convincingly.

Whatever happens though tonight and for the rest of the pre-season build up, what is important is that we are fully fit and raring to go by the time we play Stoke City at the Britannia on the opening day of our first season in the Premier League come Saturday August 15th.

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