Team news

Burnley preview
Burnley manager Owen Coyle has no new injury worries as he prepares for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Scot expects to name the same squad which drew 3-3 at Manchester City before the international break.

Midfielder Chris McCann and forwards Jay Rodriguez and Martin Paterson are still some weeks away from full fitness.

Coyle comes face-to-face with one of his role models at Turf Moor and admits he would love to emulate the success of Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill.

The 43-year-old Clarets boss holds the Northern Irishman in the highest regard and believes all young managers should endeavour to follow in the footsteps of the former Nottingham Forest winger.

In some aspects the pair's careers have marked contrasts, while in others there are some similarities.

O'Neill won the European Cup with Forest and played 64 times for his country.

Coyle, with a solitary Republic of Ireland friendly appearance to his name, played for the likes of Dumbarton, Clydebank and Bolton However, when it comes to management Coyle - whose previous jobs were at Falkirk and St Johnstone - is following a path and approach O'Neill took when he first accepted the coaching job at Wycombe before eventually progressing to Leicester, Celtic and now Villa.

"Martin O'Neill is the perfect role model. He wasn't gifted a top job, even given he was a top player who won the European Cup," said Coyle.

"He has worked his socks off at the coal face going from Wycombe to Leicester and everything he has got he has earned - no-one has handed him anything.

"That is the type of manager I am very respectful of. He is a tremendous role model for all us young managers trying to make our way in the game."

Aston Villa preview
Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov will return after suspension.

The Bulgarian midfielder was banned for the 5-1 home win over Bolton a fortnight ago after incurring five bookings during the current campaign.

Central defender James Collins and striker Emile Heskey could be available after injury against the Clarets.

Collins missed the Bolton game a fortnight ago with a groin injury.

Heskey picked up a back injury in the previous game at West Ham which ruled him out of England's friendly international with Brazil in Doha last weekend.

Winger Stewart Downing is back in training after his lengthy lay-off with a broken foot but left-back Wilfred Bouma's comeback from a dislocated ankle has been further delayed by a toe problem.

O'Neill has revealed the "devastation" felt by defender Richard Dunne after seeing the Republic of Ireland's World Cup dreams shattered by Thierry Henry's handball.

O'Neill is to sit down with Dunne to find out if he is in the right frame of mind to play. Dunne sat out training at Bodymoor Heath after travelling back from Paris - the scene of his country's heartbreak against France in the play-off second leg meeting.

O'Neill said: "Richard is very, very disappointed. He is pretty frustrated obviously with what happened and it is a real shame because Ireland were in a position to at least take the game to penalty kicks.

"It has been a devastating experience for Richard and I particularly feel for the experienced players in the side - the Dunnes, Givens, Duffs, Kilbanes and Keanes - more than the younger boys.

"It is a big blow to them. He didn't train and I'm not surprised. He has had two very heavy games, particularly the match on Wednesday, and then you are hit by the major blow of not making it to the World Cup.

"Let me put it this way, he won't get over it overnight. I will sit down with him if we get an opportunity to see how he is feeling.

Burnley vs Aston Villa

Last modified 21:14 21/11/09

Pause Play

Left

Right

View thumbnails View full screen Turn captions on/off

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Prev

Next

• Page 1
• Page 2
• Page 3

England hitman Emile Heskey came to Aston Villa’s rescue with a face-saving equaliser, just as it looked like Burnley boss Owen Coyle would celebrate his second anniversary in charge at Turf Moor with another home win.

With 10 minutes to go and Burnley hanging on to their early lead through Steve Caldwell’s first strike of the season, Villa looked desperate.

That was when Martin O’Neill played his ace card by sending on Heskey with the sole task of grabbing a leveller.

It came with just four minutes to go as pre-season £12 million signing Stewart Downing, also a late substitute,  curled in a corner.

‘Great Dane’ keeper Brian Jensen punched it out, but only as far as James Milner.

The former Newcastle man put the ball back in the goalmouth mix and big man Heskey just managed to get his head to it.

O’Neill said: “Emile was very important for us. His reputation may be as a provider, but he took his chance well.

“We were stodgy in the first half, which is a surprise after our last outing against Bolton.

“It was a big plus for Downing too. He’s a distance away from real match fitness, but he got a little spurt out there and can only improve, although it will be after Christmas before we see the best of him.”

It was tough on Burnley, who had dominated the match for long spells.

Coyle said: “We were well placed to get all three points, but you can’t ask more from your players. They worked their socks off. It might turn out to be an important point too.

“No one gifts you anything at this level, but we’ve shown that we’re here on merit.

“We may be a mismatch in terms of money and resources, but we have belief.”

Burnley’s early strike was courtesy of skipper Caldwell. The 28-year-old Scottish international beat Richard Dunne to nod home past stranded keeper Brad Friedel after nine minutes.

It was Burnley’s first set-piece goal of the campaign so far – and full marks to Robbie Blake for pin-pointing his free-kick from the left flank just inside the far post to give Caldwell his chance.

Villa’s Steve Sidwell gave the Clarets some bite as he broke through to get in their first real shot. It went wide, but Sidwell was there again, this time being checked by Caldwell.

Even when Sidwell wriggled free again, his shot was palmed away by Jensen, with World Cup referee Howard Webb ruling a foul had occurred anyway.

Ashley Young threatened to add to his season’s three-goal tally as he fired a shot just over the bar and then sent a long-distance effort wide.

But it was Burnley who took the eye with their fast-paced, pass-and-move soccer.

It just looked a matter of time before Burnley’s Cameroon

international Andre Bikey got on the scoresheet to celebrate his country qualifying for the World Cup last week.

Bikey tried his best to get on the end of another Blake free-kick, but was beaten to it by Dunne.

Then Bikey got in the goalmouth mix again to nod a corner just wide but, in the end, Heskey did the trick and saved Villa’s blushes.