'Scars': Scott Parker looks back on Burnley's failure to capitalise on solid start
It feels like a long time ago now, but given Burnley’s struggles, it’s easy to forget they actually made a solid start to the campaign.
Scott Parker’s side took 10 points from their opening 10 games of the season, in line with their point-per-game target.
The Clarets beat Sunderland, Leeds United and Wolves during that time, while running the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa close.
But after squandering the chance to move six points clear of the dropzone with a 3-2 defeat at West Ham, Burnley have since picked up just a further 10 points from the subsequent 22 games.
It leaves them 12 points adrift of safety with only six games remaining, meaning relegation is pretty much inevitable. While their fate can’t be sealed this weekend, it could come as early as Wednesday night when they face Manchester City.
When asked why his Burnley side were unable to capitalise on that solid start to the campaign, Parker suggested the Hammers defeat may have been the ultimate turning point.
The Burnley Express has launched a new WhatsApp channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our Burnley Express WhatsApp channel.
“Maybe the scars,” he said.
"And that's like anyone, anyone who has scars or anyone who's been, anyone who has, don't pick up results or sees a reality of certain things and a disappointment of certain things, you can see that that then has an effect.
And that's why I also think, mate, for all the negativity around us, from everyone, that there's an element to this team what has done incredible. And I get, you'll put that in print and people will judge it and they'll make their comments or they'll have a bias to that. But for what, at times, this group have been through, like you said, the first 10 games, the freshness of this league and what we brought.
And there's been, yeah, there's been some jabs. And that level of performance, there's been certain consistencies in our level of performance, but we've not managed to pick up results. And, yeah, there's been a big factor.
Your next Burnley FC read: No more Saturday games as Burnley's fixture against Aston Villa moved