Tactically speaking - Burnley

Tactically speaking

The Official Website takes an in-depth look at how Burnley could line up at Turf Moor in their Capital One Cup fourth-round meeting with West Ham United.

Burnley

Possible starting XI

Heaton

Trippier  Duff  Shackell  Mee

Treacy  Marney  Jones  Kightly

Ings  Vokes

Burnley have made a truly outstanding start to the 2013/14 season, winning 12 and losing just one of the 15 matches they have played in all competitions.

The Clarets' consistent start to the campaign has been based around a consistency of team selection, while strikers Danny Ings and Sam Vokes have both hit the net with unerring regularity.

Tactically, Burnley line up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, with two wingers and a big man - Vokes - and a smaller man - Ings - up front.

Manager Sean Dyche has instilled his players with belief, discipline and a playing style based on aggressively pressing the opposition all over the pitch.

Starting in goal, Tom Heaton was part of the Cardiff City side that reached the final of this competition two seasons ago. He will look to distribute the ball short to his centre-backs or longer to Vokes.

In front of him, centre-backs Michael Duff and Jason Shackell are both physical players who will attack the ball in the air and on the ground. If they have any weakness, it that neither are particularly mobile or quick across the ground.

Full-backs Kieran Trippier and Ben Mee will get forward, with the former being more adept in attacking situations. Trippier is also adept at delivering crosses from deep for Vokes to work with, and is not reluctant to shoot from distance when the opportunity presents itself.

Burnley are yet another team who employ wide midfielders on the 'opposite' wings - right-footed Michael Kightly plays on the left, while left-footed Keith Treacy plays on the right.

On-loan Stoke City and former Grays Athletic man Kightly is a quick, direct winger who can either go past his full-back on the outside or cut inside and cross with his stronger right foot.

On the other flank, Treacy is a trickier customer who will look to check and create space to cross with his left foot. He is also Burnley's designated corner-taker.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City player Dean Marney will be the more defensive of the two central midfielders, winning the ball back and playing it simple to his more creative team-mates. Marney will also drop in when either of Burnley's full-backs are caught upfield when an attack breaks down. He is also adept at tracking the run of opposition midfield players and making strong challenges.

David Jones is Burnley's more attacking central midfield player. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is more of an all-rounder than a creative playmaker, however.

Up front, strikers Vokes and Ings have been dove-tailed superbly this term. Vokes is a target-man who is the focal point of the majority of Burnley's attacking moves, either holding the ball up on the ground or flicking it on in the air. This season, the Wales international has added goals to his game, netting eight already.

Alongside him, former AFC Bournemouth player Ings has excellent movement and will always look to play off his bigger partner, as he did before scoring in the 2-0 Championship win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. The 21-year-old has scored in all three Capital One Cup victories this season and netted 13 times in 16 games in league and cup.

Dyche may choose to mix things up tonight, with a promotion battle to be fought.

Should he change things, the former Watford manager has a few options. At the back, versatile defender David Edgar or left-back Daniel Lafferty could deputise. Former Newcastle United player Edgar has started two of Burnley's three previous Capital One Cup ties this season.

In midfield, former West Ham United winger Junior Stanislas is a threat from open play or dead-ball situations, while Brian Stock is another hard-working central midfield player who will press the opposition.

Two Scots could also feature in wide midfield areas. Scotland international Ross Wallace is a skilful player capable of creating and converting chances from open play or set pieces, while Scott Arfield has made a big impact after joining the Clarets in the summer following his release by Huddersfield Town.

Whoever starts for Burnley, if Vokes is involved then the Clarets are likely to centre their attacking play around the big Welshman.