After a stuttering opening month to the season North End face a tricky trip to Turf Moor to take on the old enemy, Burnley. For added pressure the BBC cameras will be beaming the game nationwide
Having spent a season in the big time the Clarets are perhaps not on cloud nine but nonetheless are still yet to return to earth. Parachute payments, however, will ease their fall no end. A rags to riches story if ever there was one.
The Clarets' team is looking better than ever as a result with winger Ross Wallace making the switch to East Lancashire in the summer. The former Sunderland man moved for a reported fee in the region of £2m, a prime example of the Turf Moor side's new found wealth.
Ties against Burnley at Turf Moor in particular have been explosive encounters to say the least. The last 3 meetings on their patch alone have produced 14 goals, not to mention the odd red card here and there.
Previous Meetings
As mentioned above, trips to Turf Moor are never dull. The last one, which was almost exactly two years ago, saw Barry Nicholson put North End in front on 22 minutes. However, just after the half hour mark, Joey Gudjonsson was on hand to peg North End back with a sensational strike. Steven Caldwell turned the game on its head with his 64th minute effort before Chris Eagles sealed the points with a third late into stoppage time.
The year previous it was North End who notched three in what was a topsy-turvy but thrilling game. Kyle Lafferty put the home side in front with a header right in front of the travelling North End support. However, Chris Sedgwick levelled for North End just before half-time to see the game even at the break. Neil Mellor put North End ahead with a neat finish from a one-on-one only to see Chris McCann, who was later sent off, level for the Clarets.
Then, when it looked like a point was going to be the outcome, Simon Whaley picked the ball up on the edge of the area and let loose with a fizzing low strike straight into the bottom corner, sending the North End fans into raptures behind the goal.