Pressure’s on Ranieri as the fight for survival continues at Turf Moor this Saturday

Sitting 16th and 19th respectively, Burnley welcome fellow strugglers Fulham to Turf Moor in what could be a potential six-pointer. Fulham took the honours in their first meeting meeting of the campaign, with an Aleksander Mitrovic brace helping the London side to a 4-2 win.

After back to back wins in the Premier League, Sean Dyche’s men appear to look a little bit like their old selves from last season, that culminated in Burnley reaching Europe.

A leaky defence that has conceded forty-two goals already this season – on average two per match, seems to have tightened up recently. The decision to drop Joe Hart and reinstate Tom Heaton has proved a shrewd one, with just one goal conceded since.

The only absentees for the Clarets this weekend are that of Aaron Lennon and Phil Bardsley. With just two wins so far in his ten game tenure, it is fair to say that Claudio Ranieri had failed to make the desired effect on Fulham.

A 2-1 humiliating home defeat to Oldham in the FA Cup sent the club crashing out and has only rubbed salt into the gaping wounds of the Cottagers. Four points adrift from safety, confidence is somewhat low. With just 19 goals scored this season – under a goal per game, Claudio Ranieri will be hoping he can bolster his attack in the January window.

“The January transfer window is one month and if there is the opportunity to buy somebody, I think the chairman is ready”,  Claudio Ranieri told the media recently.

Ready to spend – Image courtesy of chicagotribune.com

Although finding goals is an issue, keeping them out is also tricky.

Just two clean sheets all season highlights the Cottagers deep problems in both boxes. The constant reshuffling of the back four throughout the season has often led to players appearing to look unsettled, not understanding their role or what is required from them.

With the pressure mounting, the Italian boss must galvanize a beleaguered squad quickly and help turn around their fortunes. With summer signings Alfie Mawson and André Zambo Anguissa out with injuries, Fulham will be hoping they have enough to overcome Burnley  in a match that could prove pivotal in the relegation dogfight.