Lancashire

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Manchester City at Turf Moor (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Parker confirmed Wednesday's game will come "too early" for Hannibal Mejbri and Connor Roberts, but "everyone else is fully fit".

• Reflecting on Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest: "A really disappointing result and final part to that game as well. A lot of reflection and, as always when you the results we have, it brings a certain dampness to the training facility. We rebooted well today and we're looking in a good place. In terms of the mental and psychological side of the group, today was bright."

• Parker was asked whether the fact a defeat by City would confirm the Clarets' relegation could impact their approach: "Regarding the outcome and the situation of what it can mean is one the players have been facing for some time. Having an understanding of where we are and searching for something - I don't think that's a big player in terms of us. That has been a challenge over the last few months because we haven't managed to pick up results. That burden has been on our shoulders for a long time now. That's where we are."

• What does he want and need to see from the players between now and the end of the season? "It comes down to what the players want as individuals. From my side, as always the driver will be that there are certain things you can control. There are certain traits and habits you can control. Not getting a result or the outcome of a performance sometimes you can accept when you fall a little bit short due to many reasons, but one thing you can never fall short on is what you are in control of. That has to be a mainstay and that will be the message."

• On whether he can take motivation from having an impact on the title race: "I don't think so. The main thing is to have an effect on us and what we do. That challenge is there for us and is an incredible challenge. We did what we did last year to have this challenge. We are going up against the elite of the elite - that's a challenge we should be relishing."

• On dealing with booing from supporters: "As a man I would say I am pretty fair. At the weekend I totally understand and totally deserved it because of the confusion our fans must have had was a confusion that I had as well. That frustration and the pure not understanding of it is what lives with us all, so I totally understand the booing. There have been other occasions when I have had absolutely no idea why that [booing] has been the case. There has been unrest and booing in the past that I don't really get."

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Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

No matter how the season is going, or the challenges you are trying to overcome, conceding four goals in 45 minutes is not good. Not good at all.

We did "OK" in the first half against Nottingham Forest and Zian Flemming's opening goal was a really well-worked opportunity. I have spoken about Flemming previously and vocalised my hope that he stays with us next year, but I fear he may wish to remain in the Premier League for another season, given how well he has adapted to it.

The second half wasn't even worth thinking about. We were second best all over the park. Our attacking threat non-existent. Our ability to string a positive or meaningful pass together laughable. And, again, Parker just seemed to lack any consistency or clear strategy in his starting line-up or his substitutions.

It feels like we are in Gameweek 33 and he still has no idea what his best starting 11 is.

But the most difficult part to take is that we simply crumbled so very easily. As ugly as the football was during the Sean Dyche years - and I have no desire to return to that - we had that strong jaw mentality. We gave our all. We fought for everything.

We are so very weak as a club. A club of nothingness. With no clear identity and none of the East Lancashire grit that has run through our DNA since 1882.

How we get that back is a concern that is monopolising my thoughts this week.

Perhaps, I will be able to see that more clearly once relegation is confirmed after the Manchester City game on Wednesday.

Given that City could do with winning by a large goal tally - and Burnley haven't been historically shy in gifting them 5-0 victories when they have needed it - perhaps that will be the wake-up call everyone at the club needs.

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

Tom Gayle
MOTD commentator at the City Ground

Image source, Getty Images

I think it's fair to say Burnley have known their fate for a while now. The ruthless nature of elite sport means thoughts have moved towards conversations regarding which players have shown they can deliver for someone else at this level.

For me, Martin Dubravka has performed admirably throughout the season. I would be surprised if several clubs across the top five leagues in Europe weren't monitoring the progress of Maxime Esteve. After two seasons away from the Premier League, Jaidon Anthony's improvement has been clear to see. However, the standout candidate is surely Zian Flemming.

With his nine top-flight goals, the 27-year-old remains on course to become only the fifth Burnley player to reach double figures in a Premier League season. The previous case studies of Chris Wood and Danny Ings have shown this type of goal return will lead to inevitable transfer speculation.

Whilst I'll leave it to others to debate how poor this current Burnley Premier League side is when compared to those who've come before, Flemming's case is further strengthened by digging into his individual data. Playing in a team which has the lowest xG (the quality of scoring chance created) in the division, eyebrows surely will be raised at the fact his nine Premier League goals have come from just 19 shots on target.

Only Viktor Gyokeres (12), Hugo Ekitike (11) and Eli Junior Kroupi (10) have scored more during what is for all a debut Premier League season. Furthermore, his tally of nine would make him either the top scorer, or joint top scorer, at eight other clubs, a list which includes Manchester United,Everton and Newcastle United.

Earlier this month, Flemming spoke to Dutch media about his hopes of being part of the Netherlands' World Cup finals squad, despite having never received a senior international call-up.

He said: "The Premier League is undoubtedly the best and toughest in the world. No Dutch (Premier League) player has scored more goals than me this season, so I do wonder why I'm not in the squad yet. I'm going to make sure the national coach can't ignore me any longer."

His main competition for the out-and-out striker role comes from Donyell Malen, who made the switch from Aston Villa to Roma in January, Sunderland's Brian Brobbey and former Burnley striker Wout Weghorst, who left the Premier League in 2023 and has spent the last two seasons leading the line for Ajax.

When it comes to selection, in particular for a major international tournament, there are a variety of factors which are considered. Yet when it comes to numbers, Malen surely is a lock-in given his 10 goals in 13 Serie A appearances since his move, whereas Brobbey's scored six in the Premier League, and Weghorst has seven in the Eredivisie.

I, like Flemming, would love to hear Netherlands' boss Ronald Koeman's thoughts as to why he's not been picked so far.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley boss Scott Parker admitted he deserved the abuse he received from Clarets fans after their collapse at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The 4-1 defeat left Burnley on the brink of relegation, which will come if West Ham win against Crystal Palace on Monday and the Clarets then fail to beat Manchester City at Turf Moor on Wednesday.

They are 12 points from safety with five games left after losing a 1-0 half-time lead to ship four second-half goals against Forest, including Morgan Gibbs-White's hat-trick.

Parker said: "I've got no defence and rightly so. The travelling support for 30 minutes saw a team just fall away.

"It's our job as players and as a manager to give the best version of ourselves. For 30 minutes we deserved to get booed and I deserved to get the abuse. That's what football is, I deserved that walking over there [to the fans at full time].

"It's not nice, it's hurtful and it's sad but that's the reality.

"If you open up in this division for a team like us you get hurt. I thought in the first half we did everything we needed to do.

"I'm a fan as well, I understand the passion and emotion, it's been a disappointing season.

"At times we haven't given them much to cheer about and at times I would have liked more in terms of the general getting behind us but I don't expect that really."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Ian: From unforgivably bad to ecstasy, you couldn't get two contrasting halves of football. Brian Clough said goals change games, and boy was he right in this game. Even the second half was nervy at first but our goal unlocked a freedom that was lacking. Credit to our manager, it sounds like he told them to drop their nerves and express themselves. Still lots of hard work ahead but keep calm and carry on!

Stephen: How can you go from utter garbage first half to absolute brilliance in the second half? Morgan Gibbs-White has carried us many times this season but this must go down as one of the best hat-tricks ever. Let's just hope that we don't have another first half like that and we might just avoid relegation.

James: Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. We've had no luck most of the year and now it's all coming our way. Another couple of wins out of the last five are needed though as Spurs looked a lot better.

Burnley fans

Dusty: Was at the game. Very poor other than passing back to the keeper which Burnley excel at. Just not good enough. Too many players are well below Premier League standard. Ekdal, Tchaouna, Florentino, Ugochukwu, Anthony in particular. Forest could score at will in the second half. Parker's tactics shown to be useless yet again. Where are the home grown players coming through the development team? No sign of any.

Paul: Sad and damning proof of how poor we have been all season. I fear for our prospects in the Championship next season under the same management.

Alan: When teams are in hopeless situations they can either fight or capitulate. Burnley have chosen the capitulation option. Impossible to see how the players that remain after the cull at the end of the season can be lifted and readied for the dog fight that is the Championship. League One here we come.

Steve: Complete capitulation in the second half, not one player has the passion or desire to win. Burnley are very short of a leader, both on and off the field.