What Lyle Foster’s Burnley FC need to do to try survive relegation
Bafana Bafana striker Lyle Foster faces an uphill challenge to help Burnley FC survive relegation in the English Premier League.
With five matches left to finish the campaign, Foster and Co. are in danger of being relegated to the Championship. They are second from the bottom of the log with 26 points from 33 matches.
This season, the former Orlando Pirates striker has made 19 league appearances, establishing himself as a key player for Burnley in his first season in the Premier League. He has scored four goals and added three assists to his name despite battling injuries and mental health challenges this season.
FARPost writer Otis Ntshangase looks at what Foster’s team needs to do in the remaining games to stay in the English top-flight.
BURNLEY FC MUST WIN THEIR REMAINING FIVE GAMES TO TRY TO SURVIVE RELEGATION
Burnley have been struggling since the beginning of the season as they returned to the EPL after they were relegated in the 2021/22 campaign.
In the English top-flight, the bottom three teams face automatic relegation each season. Sitting 19th, Burnley have managed to register four wins, eight draws, and 21 defeats. They’ve been struggling for goals, only scoring 33, and at the back, they’ve been shaky, conceding 68.
Last season, Leicester City FC, Leeds United and Southampton were all relegated following poor displays. The three teams managed to collect 34, 31 and 25 points respectively. For the Clarets to try to survive the drop, they need to win their five remaining matches, which will take them to 35 points.
But Burnley will also be hoping that teams above them on the log: Crystal Palace, Brentford FC, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town FC drop point in order for them to survive. So far, the gap between the teams laying 15th to 19th is 13 points. Palace have 33 points, Brentford 32, Everton have amassed 27 points, Nottingham has 26 points and Luton have collected 25 points.
Burnley’s remaining fixtures will require them to be at their best to stay in the top-tier league. They will face Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur, the teams they lost against earlier in the season. In addition, the three teams are battling to finish in the top four. Their aim is to play in the UEFA Champions League next season.
Burnley will face Sheffield United, another struggling side, who sits at the bottom of the log with 16 points. Another encounter will be against 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who have collected 26 points.
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