Burnley

It is rumored that the former Sheffield Wednesday boss, Brian Laws is to be appointed the new manager at Turf Moor, after a 17:00GMT meeting with Burnley executives.

Laws became the favourite to take the position vacated by Owen Coyle's departure to Bolton Wanderers last week.

Doncaster Rover's manager Sean O'Driscoll had been the bookmaker's favourite, but it is thought that Doncaster would seek a substantial compensation payout for their progressive manager, if he was hired by Burnley.

Laws who had a less then distinguished managerial career at Sheffield Wednesday parted company with the South Yorkshire club, by mutual consent last year. The ex-Burnley player had a record of 52 wins, 42 draws and 60 losses at Hillsborough, but was severely hampered by financial constraints.

The Geordie manager started his managerial career at Grimsby were he had a famous falling out with Ivano Bonetti. Laws reportedly threw a plate of chicken wings at the Italian player in a loss to Luton Town. The incident ultimately lead to his position becoming untenable at the Lincolnshire club.

After a short stint at Darlington, he took a position at Scunthorpe United where he lead them to promotion from the fourth tier of English football. He was sacked by the Iron in 2004 but reinstated three weeks later. He would later lead them back down again but in his second stint at Glandford Park he lead them back to the third tier of English football.

In 2006 Laws left Glanford Park for the famous old Sheffield Wednesday club but after a promising start the club and Laws settled into mid-table mediocrity. However, he has the proud distinction of been the first Owls' manager in 95 years to do the double over their heated local rivals Sheffield United. Unfortunately after four straight defeats Laws stepped down because of pressure from disgruntled fans.

The new season brought the likes of Burnley, Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers to English football's top flight.

Here we look at how the new boys have come to terms with life in what is arguably the world's most competitive league.

Burnley

Lets look at Owen Coyle's Burnley first, who came to the Premier League after a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in the playoff final at Wembley.

Burnley's opening game ended with a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City.

The Clarets' home season got off to the best possible start, with a shock upset against the reigning champions Manchester United , defeating them at Turf Moor courtesy of a typical Robbie Blake strike.

The honeymoon continued when David Moyes' Everton visited Turf Moor and returned to Merseyside empty handed. Wade Elliot's strike giving Burnley six points from their first two games.

Consecutive away defeats at Chelsea and Liverpool were expected but still brought the high-flying Clarets crashing down to earth.

A surprising 3-1 win back at home over Sunderland was followed by a shocking 5-0 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Burnley have been brilliant at home, winning all three home games against Manchester United, Everton, and Sunderland. However, they have been quite poor on their travels and have been thrashed in each of their away games; but lets not get too critical because they've only played away at Chelsea, Stoke, Tottenham, and Liverpool.

I'm expecting them to be this season's surprise package like Hull City last season and Reading in the season before last.

Burnley, who made eight new additions to their squad in the summer including the arrivals of David Nugent, Tyrone Mears, Andre Bikey, and Steven Fletcher, are reasonably well placed in midtable with nine points from seven games.

Birmingham City

Nobody knows getting into the Premier League and going down to the Championship better than Birmingham City.

Alex McCleish's side have had an indifferent start to their season.

The Blues made several signings in the summer including star Ecuadorian striker, Christian 'Chucho' Benitez, Cardiff's Roger Johnson, and ex Rangers' skipper Barry Ferguson.

A 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on the opening day of the season was followed by 1-0 win at St. Andrews against Portsmouth and a frustrating 0-0 draw against Stoke City.

Aaron Lennon's stoppage time winner at White Hart Lane meant a final score of 2-1 and Birmingham returned home without a point.

A home defeat to local rivals, Aston Villa, was followed by an away victory against Hull City courtesy of a towering header by Gary O'Connor but another defeat to Bolton means Birmingham need to be a lot more consistent if they are to avoid the drop again.

The Blues are in 14th place with seven points from seven games.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mick McCarthy's Wolverhampton Wanderers, who won the Championship signed nine new players over the summer including Chelsea's young defender Micheal Mancienne (on Loan), Sunderland's Greg Halford, and Reading's Kevin Doyle.

Wolves got their season under way with a 2-0 defeat to West Ham but wins against Wigan and Fulham mean the Molineux faithful are believing in their troops despite defeats to Blackburn and Manchester City.

They now travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in Sunday's only Premier League game.

Most Likely to become a part of the Top 10: Burnley

Most Likely to avoid relegation by the skin of their teeth: Birmingham City

Most Likely to get relegated: Wolves

David Nugent was the man of the moment for Burnley, as the on-loan striker scored two great goals on his home debut to give his side a surprising 3-1 victory against Sunderland at Turf Moor.

Nugent, who has a 100% record in the England national team (with one goal in one game), scored twice to give Burnley the win after coming off the bench, with the score delicately poised at 1-1 at the time.

Sunderland, who have had their best ever start in the Premier League with nine points in their first five games, dominated play in the opening exchanges and completely played their opponents off the park.

However, it was Burnley who took a suprise lead, very much against the run of play.

Graham Alexander scored his first ever Premier League goal with a well-taken penalty on 13 minutes, after Wade Elloitt (who scored the Wembley winner to take Burnley into the top-flight) was brought down rather clumsily and unnecessarily by Anton Ferdinand.

Despite conceeding against the run of play, Sunderland did not stagnate and continued to control the proceedings.

And their dominance turned into a goal in the 39th minute, when defender Clarke Carlisle was caught daydreaming and enabled Darren Bent to beat the offside trap and coolly slot past Brian Jensen to equalise for the Black Cats.

The second half started in similar vein to the first, with the visitors really pressing forward in search of a winner and again having the better possession.

However, on 67 minutes came the turning point of the match. David Nugent marked his home debut for Burnley with a goal after only being introduced to the game 10 minutes previously.

Ex-Manchester United winger Chris Eagles began the move, finding Tyrone Mears down the right flank, with Mears playing the ball to Elliott, whose first time cross found Nugent, who headed home to give the Clarets a 2-1 lead against the run of play.

And for all the dominant possession Sunderland continued to have, they just could not find an equaliser.

It got even worse on 86 minutes, as Nugent had a home debut to remember following a superb goal to kill the game off completely.

After receiving the ball from Elliott, Nugent turned inside the box and unleashed a superb curling shot into the top corner, giving his side a 3-1 lead and wrapping up another valuable three points for Burnley.

The result leaves the Clarets on level points with Sunderland, having won all three of their home games this season, including that famous 1-0 victory over Manchester United last month.

As for Sunderland, the game at Turf Moor was a stark reminder of how harsh football can be in the Premier League; it's converting those chances that's important, not just creating them.

Attendance: 20,196

For most of the first half, it seemed as if this game would be another chapter in Burnley's fairytale start to the season.

Goalkeeper Brian Jensen was in inspired form yet again, repelling wave after wave of Chelsea attacks and frustrating the home side.

For those inside Stamford Bridge, it seemed reminiscent of many a home game under Luiz Felipe Scolari last season. The Blues were dominating possession and creating plenty of chances, but they just couldn’t put the ball into the net.

Nicolas Anelka wasted a golden opportunity for the home side after just six minutes when he was clean through on goal after dispossessing Andre Bikey. The Frenchman tried to go around Jensen, but the Burnley keeper was able to grab the ball.

But Burnley were far from over-awed, and they should have taken a shock lead three minutes later. Frank Lampard was careless in possession, presenting the ball to Tyrone Mears, who fed the ball to Martin Paterson in acres of space. But the midfielder only managed to screw his shot wide of Petr Cech’s right hand post.

With the amount of chances Chelsea were creating, it seemed a question of when they would score, not if. Jensen, however, had other ideas, keeping out shots from Michael Ballack, John Terry, and Lampard.

The crowd began to voice its frustration, but a trio of goals seven minutes on either side of halftime had them grinning from ear to ear. Anelka gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead, sliding in to convert a Didier Drogba cross.

Lampard stood the ball up for Ballack to nod home the second, and the England midfielder was involved in Chelsea’s third, playing a one-two with left back Ashley Cole, who volleyed a fantastic finish past Jensen for only his third goal in Chelsea colours.

A goal fest seemed on the cards. Anelka almost added a fourth, but he hit the bar from Ballack’s pass.

The tempo dropped noticeably after that flurry of goal-mouth action, with Burnley seemingly resigned to their fate and Chelsea relaxed, safe in the knowledge that three points had been secured.

Michael Essien did his best to add his name to the scoresheet, first calling Jensen into action in the 66th minute and then again with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Substitute Salomon Kalou was inches away from scoring his first goal of the season as the game edged towards stoppage time, but his poked shot was cleared off the line by Mears with Jensen stranded.

The 100 percent start to the season continues for Ancelotti’s men, and they go to the top of the Premier League on goal difference.

Burnley, meanwhile, have been brought back down to Earth after shock wins over Manchester United and Everton.

The first guests on the show were Burnley duo Steven Caldwell and Michael Duff joining Helen and Max on the famous sofa. The pair began by talking over their playoff final experience, before discussing their frustrations at missing the beginning of the Premier League season with injury and the Clarets win of Manchester United.

The new official “best chef in Britain,” Heston Blumenthal, was the next guest to stumble onto the coach before Joel and Carey from rock band “Athlete” came onto the show to plug their new album and talk about football.

The Stoke City squad had their opportunity to make Chris Kamara pay for wrongly calling Liam Lawrence “Liam Richardson” in take one for the team.

The new viral video released by the FA supporting their Respect campaign, featuring Ray Winstone, was aired on the show. (Watch here.)

The usual features returned including Armed Forces, Our man in a caff, Skill Skool, Crossbar Challenge, Tubes and Soccerette.

Chelsea 3 - Burnley 0 (Premier League, August 29, 2009) Chelsea dominated an open first half at Stamford Bridge against Burnley, the breakthrough came seconds before the break as Didier Drogba fired in a cross finished by both Clark Carlisle and Nicolas Anelka. The home side were scintilating early in the second half, Michael Ballack headed home from a Lampard cross two minutes after the break for the second and Ashley Cole volleyed into the top corner following another assist from Lampard for the third.

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Nottingham Forest 3 - Derby 2 (Championship, August 29, 2009) It took Nottingham Forest less than sixty seconds to take the lead against Derby, a cross was only partially cleared by the Rams and Radoslaw Majewski latched onto the loose ball to whack home a cracker off the underside of the bar. Forest took control of the match through further goals from Dexter Blackstock and Nathan Tyson before half-time. Derby though hit back thanks to an overhead kick from Addison that hit Chris Cohen and then a Jake Livermore goal just after the hour.

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Tomsk 0 - FC Moscow 0 (Russian Premier League, August 29, 2009) Third-placed FC Moscow stayed in touch with the leaders picking up a point on the road.

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Brisbane Roar 1 - Central Coast Mariners 0 (A-League, August 29, 2009) Craig Moore buried a powerful header early in the contest to give the Roar a first win of the season.

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Nagoya Grampus Eight 1 - Albirex Niigata 0 (J-League, August 29, 2009) Keiji Tamada broke into the box after 19 minutes, rounded the keeper to claim and finished neatly to claim the only goal of the game.

Chelsea v Burnley, Premier League, August 29, 2009

Chelsea 1/7; Draw 6/1; Burnley 20/1

Owen Coyle takes his Burnley side to Stamford Bridge in the early kick off on Saturday, hoping for arguably a bigger upset than beating either Manchester United or Everton at home.

Burnley’s victories over two of last season’s top five have infused belief at Turf Moor that the smallest club in the history of the Premier League can avoid the dreaded drop. (Burnley are 4/6 to be relegated.) Their naive opening day defeat at Stoke now seems like a long time ago as the likes of Brian Jensen and Wade Elliott have produced match winning performances in successive home wins.

Unlike Chelsea, Burnley had a midweek match and rested a number of their players in the 3-1 Carling Cup win over Hartlepool that was only secured in extra time. Substitute Steven Fletcher (6/1 to score) scored his first goals for the club, the first came with just six minutes remaining and ensured that a cup upset was avoided.

Chelsea start as heavy favourites in this match but should be buoyed by Hull’s performance on the opening day of the Premier League season at Stamford Bridge. Whether Carlo Ancelotti deploys a diamond or Christmas tree, Chelsea look better equipped away from home where they can release their pacy front two on the break.

Hull deployed a five man midfield in their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea and we can expect Burnley to do the same in an attempt to stifle the service from midfield to Nicolas Anelka (4/1 to score first) and Didier Drogba (8/11 to score) up front.

The Ivorian hitman in particular has been in sensational form this season and Ancelotti has already succeeded where Luiz Felipe Scolari failed in getting Drogba onside. Last week at Fulham, Anelka and Drogba scored one and both provided assists which has led many to suggest they can play together.

Drogba, who has scored three goals in three Premier League games so far, has another reason to produce the goods on Saturday. Burnley beat Chelsea on penalties in the Carling Cup in November last year and Drogba famously threw a coin into the crowd in one of the most bizarre moments of the 2008/2009 season.

Following his start to the season we can expect Drogba to be chomping at the bit and Chelsea are firm favourites to secure their fourth win of the campaign. If goals do flow for the home side, Frank Lampard (5/4 to score) could well be a beneficiary as Burnley struggle to keep an eye on the bodies flowing from midfield.

Burnley’s last win at Stamford Bridge in league football came in April 1971, but as Hull proved last season, promoted teams play with a vigour early on in the campaign that can yield impressive results. Chelsea will though likely continue the Carlo Ancelotti honeymoon period.

101gg predicts: Chelsea 3 – Burnley 0 (6/1)

Chelsea 1/7; Draw 6/1; Burnley 20/1

Full match odds here.

Manchester United were thrown into an incredible atmosphere at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening. A stunning goal from Burnley's Robbie Blake sent all three points the Clements' way.

Michael Owen was looking as rusty as one would have assumed he'd be in his first major start for the club.

Failure to get a touch on two great deliveries from the wing left him wondering what might have been as he exited the field in the middle of the second half.

Burnley only needed one strike, and was it thunderous. After an attempt to head clear from Evra, Robbie Blake latched onto the header for a one-time volley that screamed into the upper ninety.

It was a goal worthy of the three points it won.

United had the best chance you can possibly get on goal, a penalty, awarded just before halftime. Patrice Evra was tripped up by goal scorer Robbie Blake and Carrick stepped to the spot.

He pounded a shot to the Burnley keeper Jensen's right, but the big man between the posts was the hero, saving Carrick's attempt.

As a United fan, I was puzzled as to what may have been the reason for Carrick taking the penalty. I thought Rooney, Owen, or Anderson might have been a better choice.

However, I speculate that no one wants to get a milestone goal from the spot. It would have been Rooney's 100th and Anderson's first for the club.

The entire second half was played in the Burnley end, but United couldn't find the golden touch to get them level, which would have been all they'd need to get them a second.

Instead, United looked like the team they are, one with new faces and players who haven't played nearly enough together to put forth a real team effort.

Giggs played a short corner to Antonio Valencia, who mistakenly put it onto Giggs' right foot, and since Giggs was expecting the left, the ball caught the United legend leaning and rolled over the touchline.

The town of Burnley is the smallest in the Premier League, but the 20,800 in attendance more than filled the voices of the 50,000 Burnleyians not in attendance.

With a showdown with unexpected winners on the first weekend Wigan approaching, United better shore up their expectations, otherwise United fans could be in for a frustrating season.

Burnley vs Manchester United, Wednesday 19 August 2009, Turf Moor, Kick-Off: 19:45

Burnley

Newly promoted side Burnley enter this match after losing their opening league encounter 2-0 to Stoke on the road.

Both Steven Caldwell and Michael Duff look to miss this match against Man Utd through injury.

Manchester United

Manchester United got their season off on the right foot with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham at Old Trafford.

Man Utd still have a lengthy injury list with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, and Owen Hargreaves amongst the injured.

Prediction

Although only winning by a 1-0 scoreline, Man Utd began the season with confidence whilst Burnley went down 2-0 to an impressive Stoke side.

Burnley won their last five matches at home last season in the Championship, so there is still hope that they could pull off a result against Man Utd on Wednesday night.

Unfortunately for them, it would take a massive performance to achieve even a point against United, as the Red Devils enter the match as heavy favourites to win.

Burnley vs Manchester United Prediction: Burnley 0 - Man Utd 2

Read the full preview with the top odds and betting markets for the match at the Burnley vs Man Utd page from Sports Betting Review now!