The outcome of this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash between West Ham and Burnley will have repercussions on many different levels, the visitors are fighting to survive in the top flight, the home side not. However, West Ham still have a chance of grabbing a European spot, pre-christmas form would have seen the club automatically qualify for the Europa League but the recent dramatic dip in form has ruined that gateway. Enter the rather perplexing fair play award, for a Sam Allardyce team supposedly built around physicality and pressing football, Hammers are an unlikely top of the current fair play league, which would see the club qualify for Europe, the team directly below are Saturday's visitors Burnley.
Conspiracy theorists could have a field day here, along with the bookies. Burnley need to survive, West Ham want to enter the Europa League, what result would suit both teams best? Obviously West Ham fans want a victory and Europe, but what if the visitors earned the victory but had several bookings and a player sent off? Paradoxically Burnley could live to fight another day and West Ham could be almost assured of reaching Europe by denying Burnley the top fair play slot.
Either way this is going to be a tough fixture for 'under fire' Big Sam, surely he won't try to park the bus against the bottom side of the Premiership, the natives are already restless and a negative approach might just be too much for fans who have seen the scintillating attacking football of the early season be replaced by donkey to cart horse hoof ball.
Allardyce has stated the need to "keep a clean sheet" against Burnley, Is this all part of a 'cunning plan', and if so, by whom for what? -Ed
