The top four home records in the Premier League: Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Burnley. Yes, you read that correctly. Burnley has the fourth best home record in the league and trails Arsenal for third only on goal difference. This is the same Burnley that was ranked as the most likely team to be relegated this season by the English sports books at 11/10 odds. Instead, they now sit comfortably above the drop zone in 12th place.
Their comfortable position is due entirely to their form at home at Turf Moor. Well, not entirely. With 13 games remaining in the season, Burnley has amassed 30 points, 29 of which were won at home. On the road, Burnely look much more like the team the experts were predicting. Out of the 11 away games they've played in the league, they only have a solitary point to show for their troubles, as they rode their luck to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford against a wasteful United.
Ninety seven percent of Burnley's points have been won at home and their differential of 2.07 points per home game against .09 points per away game is on pace to be the largest gap in the history of the Premier League by far. The Clarets have scored 22 times at home, but only 5 on the road. They have lost only three times at home in 14 Premier League games and have won both of their home FA Cup fixtures as well.
The number of losses should be only two, as they fell 1-0 to Arsenal in October on a dubious 93rd minute goal that clearly went in off of Laurent Koscielny's hand. No matter which stats are used to analyze the phenomenon, the numbers are staggering and have left people wondering how Burnley transform themselves from relegation fodder on their travels to world-beaters at home.
Burnley's home form has become so formidable that their fixture against Chelsea on February 12th was considered by many experts to be the run-away leader's most difficult remaining fixture of the 14 they had remaining, even more difficult than their trip to Manchester United or there visit from Manchester City to West London. Before the season, that would have sounded absurd. It still does, but the numbers don't lie and the result of the game proved the experts right.
Chelsea went ahead on an early goal from Pedro, but instead of coasting to victory as they have against so many others this year, they were pegged back by a brilliant set piece goal from their new January signing Robbie Brady. Such is the strength of Burnley at home this season that the better of the remaining chances in the contest belonged to them.
Chelsea were indebted to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for keeping the score at 1-1. The notoriously intense Chelsea manager Antonio Conte attempted to feign frustration at having dropped 2 points at what most consider a vastly inferior Burnely, but it wasn't a convincing acting job and it was apparent he was relieved his team came away with anything from their trip to Turf Moor.
Of course, the old refrain used to test the mettle of a team was "can they do it on a cold, wet night at Stoke?" Now, Burnley has inherited the measuring stick. How have they done it? Well, most importantly, they have replaced Stoke as the Prem's resident rugby team. Of course, they may not appreciate that designation, but there's truth to it.
The clarets are a physical team from front to back. Their co-leading scorer, striker Sam Vokes, is a bruising target man who makes his presence felt whether or not he scores. In the midfield, one of England's most notorious bad boys, Joey Barton, has returned to the Clarets after spending a year in Scotland and is enjoying a renaissance.
Barton has a long rap sheet of fights, brawls, red cards, fines, bans, and arrests. At 34, he may have lost a step, but he is still a gifted player and a menace to the opposition, particularly with the intimidating home crowd behind him. Even with the defense and midfield performing admirably at home this year, Burnley will never be a high-scoring side as presently constructed.
A stingy defense is their greatest strength. Their first choice back four of Stephen Ward, Ben Mee, Michael Keane and Matt Lowton have been playing together for two years and have become a formidable unit and club capital Tom Heaton is having a tremendous year.
The physical play and all-out commitment from Burnley is enhanced by the constricting confines of Turf Moor. Conventional wisdom says that a smaller field benefits the more physical, less talented side and Burnely were forced to extend the dimensions of the field to adhere to Premier League standards over the summer.
Still, the claustrophobic feeling for opponents remains and is enhanced by the fact that the stands are extremely close to the field, leaving players and fans only feet apart. Furthermore, the dressing rooms at the stadium are famously small and uncomfortable.
Whether the constricting conditions of the stadium are real or only perceived, it is clear that Burnley does a great job of taking opponents out of their element and making it a trip most do not relish. If you're looking for fancy corporate suites, plush seats and the latest in stadium technology, don't go to a game at Turf Moor.
However, if you want to experience one of the best atmospheres in England and the passion, commitment and physicality that has helped make the Premier League the most famous in the world, then a trip to Burnley will not disappoint.
Burnley's manager Sean Dyche deserves immense credit, having won the Championship last season and now seeing his side sitting comfortably mid-table. Determination and commitment are obviously central to Burnley's cause, but those factors alone will not bring success in the Premier League.
At some point you need a tactician who can put the players in the best position to succeed and create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. Dyche is working hard to change the perception that English managers are lacking in tactical sense. In fact, there are only four English managers in the Premier League today.
Dyche's success should go a long way to increasing that number. He is not only an expert motivator, but an astute tactician who was recently hailed as the best manager in the league along with Antonio Conte by Arsenal legend Martin Keown.
Granted, that may have been an overreaction to Dyche's side taking Chelsea out of their rhythm over the weekend, but it has become impossible to ignore the success Dyche has created by tailoring Burnley's tactics based on the venue and opponent.
An example of Dyche's tactical ingenuity is that Burnley actually has less possession of the ball at home than on the road, as they look to counter attack using long balls more frequently at Turf Moor. A stroke of genius by Dyche that is allowing his team to greatly exceed expectations.
Burnley is the smallest home city of any team in the Premier League and the club also has the least expensive squad in the top-flight. Their underdog status unites the city, team and fans, creating one of the best home field advantages in soccer. There might be no better "second team" to root for in Europe this year than the Clarets. When they play at home, anyways.
