With every passing fixture, Burnley’s survival hopes fade further away. Even a much-improved display during a 2-2 draw in the capital against West Ham ended up feeling like relegation was unavoidable after former Turf Moor favourite Claret Danny Ings equalised for the hosts in the 91st minute.
Super sub’s stunning strike in stoppage time 🦸♂️ PIC.TWITTER.COM/LRNPRD5RAR
— West Ham United (@WestHam) MARCH 11, 2024
Try as Burnley might and despite playing well, they can’t hold onto the points they desperately need to preserve their Premier League status; it is an age-old recipe for relegation.
There is, without question, a feeling of the inevitable taking place in May as a result.
Odds-on to go down
A closer look at the latest betting odds reveals just how precarious Burnley’s position in the Premier League is as the club has been priced at 9/1 in the ‘to stay up’ market.
The Claret’s only chances of defying these odds will depend on two factors. The first is Burnley doing what they haven’t been able to all season and stringing a few wins together while the second comes down to the size of the looming points deductions that Everton and Nottingham Forest will potentially receive.
Never say never
Of course, while it remains mathematically possible for Burnley to stay up, there will still be faint hope at Turf Moor of a miracle taking place.
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If we were, however, to take the odds at face value and assume that Burnley will be unable to dig themselves out of this hole, the question is: how does Vincent Kompany get his side back up after alienating his promotion heroes?
Kompany rolls the dice
Kompany undoubtedly gambled when he opted to replace a large majority of the players who earned Burnely 101 points during their 2022/2023 title-winning season. The risk was that his new summer signings who were recruited from Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, and France would take time to gel in a league where time is not a luxury that newly promoted teams are afforded.
These initial concerns proved to be valid after Burnley set an unwanted top-flight record by losing their first six matches at home after being promoted.
Still, instead of turning to the tried-and-tested players on his bench who knew his philosophy back to front, Kompany chose to persist with his new arrivals. It has been a decision that might not only cost Burnley their Premier League place but also their chance of bouncing straight back up.
Kompany has made his bed
In short, Kompany is going to struggle to motivate his cast-aside Championship winners to run the gruelling gauntlet of 46 games again in a bid to get the club promoted when they know that there is no future for them should they hold up their end of the bargain.
WHAT A GOAL 🔥
Burnley will clinch the Championship title tonight if the score stays the same 🏆 PIC.TWITTER.COM/EGYYI7I11Z
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) APRIL 25, 2023
That trust is now gone and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Championship stalwarts like Manuel Benson, Connor Roberts, and Aro Muric seek pastures new if and when relegation is confirmed. In the event that this happens, Kompany will have to turn to a squad of players who weren’t able to stave off relegation and who are also untested in the ruthless rough and tumble of the Championship to get the club back up.
