EFL legend analyses the reasons behind Burnley’s poor start to the season

Nicky Hayen’s constant chopping and changing has been a major contributing factor to Burnley’s early season struggles.

That’s the verdict of EFL legend Billy Sharp, who believes the Clarets need a settled side - especially in defence - if they’re to climb off the foot of the Championship table.

It follows a nightmare start to the season for Burnley, who have failed to win any of their first eight games, conceding 17 goals in the process.

“It’s been a slow start,” Sharp told the Essential EFL podcast. “They’ve not won a game yet.

“They’ve conceded far too many goals, which if you’d said that about Burnley the last two or three seasons you’d have said: ‘what are you talking about?’

“If you’re going to concede goals in the Championship, you’re not going to win many games. You need a solid platform.

“They’ve changed the back four nearly every game. Kyle Walker has played centre back, he’s played right back and he’s been on the bench. They’ve brought players in as well but they’ve not found a formula yet to get a clean sheet or even find a win.

“I was hoping one of Burnley or Derby would win that game, because I think one of them might have pushed the button by now, but the draw has kept both managers fighting for their job at the minute.

“That’s not me putting pressure on them both, it’s just what you’re hearing in the background and the outside world.

“It’s been a very frustrating, slow start for Burnley which needs to pick up quickly, because that momentum swing from winning every week in the Championship to losing every week in the Premier League is hard to get out of if you don’t do it quickly.”