Good afternoon, and welcome to Eurosport's coverage of this weekend's 3pm blockbuster for the hard-hitting realists: Burnley versus West Ham United at Turf Moor. Supermarkets are already testing the seasonal sensibilities of the nation with their themed aisles and premature Christmas promotions, yet today's game does have something of a festive feel to it. December may be some weeks away, but given the hard working, direct styles of Burnley and West Ham their coming together looks set to be the sort of chocolate box footballing clash perfectly suited to a honestly fought Boxing Day ding dong. The scheming over in the dug out will be between the ghosts of provincial northern underdog overachievers of seasons past and seasons present with Sam Allardyce, formerly of Bolton and Blackburn, facing off against Burnley's Sean Dyche in a battle of tactical wits and shirts and ties. Both bosses will happily to sacrifice the jovialities to grab a result however, with the hosts still stuck in the

Premier League / Matchday 8

Turf Moor / 18.10.2014

Burnley

Completed

West Ham United

G. Boyd(60')

Live

Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 18/10/2014 at 15:54 GMT

14:50

Time for some quick pre-match stats for you to mull over. Stewart Downing is currently level with Cesc Fabregas on goalscoring chances created. Both players have produced 22 so far this season.

Up top, Diafra Sakho has been in fine form too, scoring in all five starts he's made for the Hammers in all competitions since arriving in the summer.

And while Burnley may not have made the start to live back in the Premier League that they would have hoped for, the Clarets can proudly claim to be the club who have used the most English players this campaign, with 13.

14:45

Just 15 minutes to go before kick off.

The teams are out warming up and Turf Moor is beginning to fill up for what could quite the clash between Burnley and West Ham this afternoon.

The Clarets may stil be winless but they go into this on a three game unbeaten run, but given the Hammers' improvement of late that record should be tested.

14:42

And now for Big Sam himself: "I just want to see on Saturday if the players have the mentality to show the same consistency and whether they have got the right desire and determination to win back-to-back football matches for the first time this season. That is their first test against a Burnley side that are undoubtedly well-organised and make things very difficult, even if they have not won a game yet. Somewhere along the line they are going to win a game very shortly and we have got to make sure it is not against us."

14:40

What are the two managers saying before today's game? I'm glad you asked. Here's some quotes from Messers Dyche and Allardyce.

Burnley's manager believes that "as a group we can operate at this level, certainly compete. They don't get any pressure from me by the way, none of them. One result doesn't define the next result. But what I do know is that this was more like how I expect the team to perform."

14:30

Kick-off is just half an hour away, so it's time to begin winding up whatever it is you're doing and settling in for 3 o'clock.

Bertie Bee is on his way down to pitchside at Turf Moor? Where are you up to?

More build up to the start of today's clash follows.

14:20

Burnley are of course still without a win in seven games, and currently sit level on points with Newcastle United and QPR in bottom three.

It seems like every weekend, the Clarets' class of 2014 are being compared to the efforts of the team that came up into the Premier League under Owen Coyle back in 2009.

Back then, Burnley won three of their first seven matches, grabbing some impressive scalps with early victories over Manchester United and Everton. They also beat Sunderland. Their eigth game was also a victory over Birmingham City. All four wins of course came at home.

Worryingly for Dyche's side, this quick start to life in the top flight wasn't enough to secure survival come May. This year's vintage will need to play catch up in a big way to stand any chance of remaining in the league this season, although maybe West Ham's recent form may aid the hosts with a bit of complacency? Without wishing to disrespect the Hammers, Big Sam's improved team still lie closer to the Sunderland and Birmingham bracket than United and Everton.

Today will be both team's eighth game of the season. Can Burnley make it count again, five years on from beating the Blues?

14:10

So Ings goes straight back into the team for Burnley, with Ross Wallace, the man who came off the bench to secure a point versus Leicester, again starts the match on the sidelines.

David Jones and Kieran Trippier also return for the Clarets from injury, with Nathaniel Chalobah, on-loan from Chelsea, swapping the physio's bench for the sub's bench.

Marvin Sordell makes way for Ings, and will begin the match from the bench.

14:07

Here's the full line ups with subs:

Burnley: Heaton, Shackell, Jutkiewitcz, Duff, Arfield, Kightly, Ings, Jones, Mee, Trippier, Boyd

Subs: Gilks, Long, Ward, Chalobah, Barnes, Sordell, Wallace

West Ham: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Downing, Sakho, Noble, Jenkinson, Collins, Amalfitano, Song, Valencia

Subs: Nolan, Jarvis, Vaz Te, O'Brien, Jaaskelainen. Cole, Burke

14:05

West Ham's official Twitter account have been kind enough to tweet today's team for the visitors with a bit of MS Paint magic.

Valencia does start for the Hammers, with the midfielder-cum-striker supposedly having laughed off talk of rest and stamina to return to the front for Allardyce.

Alex Song and Stewart Downing will look to build upon the budding combination they formed together at Loftus Road to pull QPR apart prior to the international break.

13:55

The hour mark ahead of kick off approaches. The line ups and team news should be with us soon.

Rumours suggest that Danny Ings may be back for Burnley. Oh how Dyche's team have missed the prolific Englishman. His favourite strike partner Sam Vokes remains out for the foreseeable however.

West Ham may have to reduce Enner Valencia's role in the match day line up today given his energy sapping trips over the Atlantic ocean to represent Ecuador.

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