Coyle to grapple Wenger in Turf Moor carpark

Tonight's night really can't come quick enough for me as we welcome back Arsenal to the scene of their Carling Cup decline last season with the prospect of another tough night in the north ahead of them. The fact that Owen Coyle has demanded his players go "toe to toe" with the Londoners should make things particularly difficult for Arsene Wenger's men (we're not ruling out an ambush as they get off the team bus).

Night time Turf Moor triumphs over the likes of the Gunners and Manchester United, as well as the Tottenham semi final epic have set the bar as some of the most memorable evenings in our recent history. The darkness seems to descend a special atmosphere around Turf Moor that makes the hairs on the back of your neck instantly stand to attention.

I’ve had a feeling for a while now that this game could provide another similarly thrilling encounter where we run our big time opponents close, ride our luck and in the end secure a positive result. After four games without a win upsetting the form book with a surprise three points isn’t beyond the realms of possibility. That’s especially the case when you look at Arsenal’s injury problems. Arsene Wenger is already without Van Persie, Clichy, Gibbs and Eboue and also has doubts over Fabregas, Arshavin, Gallas, Walcott and Traore.

Prior to tomorrows game, one of our other Carling Cup Capital Punishment victims of last year Fulham escaped further retribution with a one all draw at the weekend. Back at the Turf after two defeats on the road we earned ourselves a hard fought point against Roy Hodgon’s men. The Cottages produced an extremely organised display and have definitely been put together tremendously well by the man with the game’s greatest accent. The spine of their team is pretty solid and is sprinkled with talented footballers all over the park.

Burnley’s best play in the first half came down the right hand side as Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears time and time again threatened with excellent link up play that kept Paul Konchesky on his toes. But other than that it was a fairly disjointed performance in the opening forty five minutes as we struggled to make an impact in midfield while our back four were kept busy by the lively Duff and Zamora.

The breakthrough came when we were punished for not reacting to a quick free kick and as the skipper Steven Caldwell misjudged the resulting ball the excellent Bobby Zamora was left through on goal to open the scoring.

Zamora may be criticised for his lack of goals but his hold up play was sensational as he time and time again brought his midfield into the game. If he can continue such form and start to put the ball in the net on a regular basis then he could definitely be challenging Carlton Cole to replace Emile Heskey as England’s target man option after next years World Cup.

With a second home defeat of the season staring us in the face, the crowd rallied as Burnley surged forward to try and make amends. After a fantastically whipped low cross from Stephen Jordan was only half cleared the ball dropped Wade Elliot who drew things level with a fabulous volley. Hopefully the strike will give Elliot a touch more confidence as he seems to have struggled to make an impact over the last couple of games he's played in central midfield.

Once we switched to 4-4-2 we looked more much comfortable, the introduction of the lively David Nugent always seems to help the side look more dangerous and provide us with the extra dimension we sometimes so desperately lack. Kevin McDonald also adds more balance and substance to the midfield, but never seems to be given his chance in our regular system of three central midfielders. Against Manchester City he was deployed on the left hand side and in his start against Pompey and the majority of his other subs appearances he’s played alongside Grezza in a reverted 4-4-2.

I would love to see both Nugent and McDonald included in the starting eleven tomorrow night; but whatever eleven is picked by Owen Coyle I’m sure that with another electric atmosphere inside Turf Moor we will raise our game and get at them from the first whistle. If we can keep things close who can bet against us pushing Arsenal all the way and making it another famous night on the pitch (and carpark) in the history of Burnley Football Club.