The inside track on Burnley - including team news, tactics and survival hopes ahead of Newcastle United clash

And let’s hope it is better than the last one after the Magpies were swept aside by Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium last month.

Since then however, Steve Bruce’s side have earned a credible point against Tottenham Hotspur – but now is the time to start getting some more wins on the board.

And a trip to Turf Moor is viewed as the ideal opportunity to hopefully return winning ways and in the process, bring their hosts back into relegation danger.

To get the lowdown on Sean Dyche’s side, we caught with Chris Boden, who covers the club for the Burnley Express.

How do you assess Burnley's season under Sean Dyche so far?

CB: “I think every Burnley fan thought it would be an uphill struggle to stay up this season after the failure to replace squad members or strengthen the squad in the summer, and the injury problems at the start of the season.

“After two points from the first seven games, it looked grim, but getting Ben Mee back alongside James Tarkowski was pivotal, and results picked up with the skipper back in the side.

“With the spine of his side back, Burnley are capable of picking up points against anyone, and so it has proved.”

It was a tough result for Burnley at Southampton - losing despite leading 2-0. What will be the mentality heading into the Newcastle fixture?

CB: “The mentality stays the same - there are no disappointments, the manager and players don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.

"It’s all about the next game, and they’ll be prepared for another important game.”

Is there a genuine belief from around Turf Moor that Burnley will retain their Premier League status?

CB: “Until they are mathematically safe, there will always be nerves, but I think, on 33 points, with eight games to go, Burnley will do enough to stay up regardless of what happens on Saturday.

"There seems a lot of hype about Fulham, but they’ve won five games all season and have lost the last three.

"On any form table, last six, calendar year etc, they’re behind Burnley, but listening to what Sean Dyche calls “outside noise”, you’d imagine they were flying and winning every week.”

How do you expect Burnley to line-up against Newcastle United?

CB: “Depending on the fitness of Erik Pieters, who came off in the first half at Southampton and became a father this week, they could be unchanged despite the defeat.

"Charlie Taylor came on for Pieters and is first choice left-back, but Pieters has been performing well in Taylor’s absence.”

Who are the key Burnley men Newcastle should watch out for me?

CB: “Aside from keeper Nick Pope, arguably England’s number one, and James Tarkowski - who for my money is as good a centre back as there is in England - forwards Matej Vydra and Chris Wood have five goals between them in four games, Wood scoring in the last three.”

Can we push you for a score prediction?

CB: “I’d expect a typically tight game between these sides, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is a low-scoring draw.”

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