‘Fans can make a difference’ - Burnley co-chairman

Clarets co-chairman John Banaszkiewicz felt the fans made a difference last time out at Leicester City.
Memorable moment: Burnley fans celebrate Ross Wallaces injury time equaliser last time out at Leicester CityMemorable moment: Burnley fans celebrate Ross Wallaces injury time equaliser last time out at Leicester City
Memorable moment: Burnley fans celebrate Ross Wallaces injury time equaliser last time out at Leicester City

And he is hoping for similar backing at home to West Ham United on Saturday.

There was a following of 2,196 in a crowd of 31,448 at the King Power Stadium, but you would have guessed there were more Burnley supporters in the ground as they outsang the hosts.

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The players were inspired to earn a deserved 2-2 draw, with Ross Wallace scoring an equaliser deep into injury time, and Banaszkiewicz admitted the vocal support was the talk of the boardroom after the game: “The support was terrific on Saturday, it really did lift the team, particularly in the second half.

“It was as good an atmosphere as I’ve witnessed for a long time, and was probably worth a goal or two, spurring the players on.

“Around 2,000 fans made more racket than around 30,000 Leicester fans - in the boardroom, the Leicester directors said the Burnley fans made so much more noise than Manchester United and the other clubs Leicester have played so far at home, which is particularly impressive.

“We want to replicate that, particularly at home games now, starting on Saturday.”

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The support was something which also moved manager Sean Dyche - completely unprompted - to underline.

As he said after the game, of Burnley’s draw: “It was nothing more than our fans deserved, I thought our fans were absolutely unbelievable.

“I’ve had some great times here, so have our fans, but that is up there with as loud, raucous and positive as they’ve been.

“They know we need that, I asked for it last season and they got behind us, and we need it got forward as this group develops, learns and improves.”

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Kieran Trippier will return to training this week ahead of Saturday’s home clash with West Ham United.

Trippier sat out last week after suffering an ankle injury late on in the 2-2 draw at Leicester City last Saturday.

Back in training last week were Danny Ings, Dean Marney, David Jones and Nathaniel Chalobah as they look to give Sean Dyche a boost.