What They're Saying: Dyche on Moyes & Do Burnley have the worst 'celeb' fan ever?

The Manager

Sean Dyche has insisted David Moyes neither needs nor warrants his sympathy. The tough-talking, gravel growling East Midlands-born boss of Burnley plays host to Sunderland as the two sides face each other for the third time in under three weeks tonight.

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This time its the FA Cup again - a replay neither side needs at the present time in truth, but less so David Moyes as his scant squad are down to the bare bones and barely have eleven senior players to make up a viable first team.

Moyes is expected to ring the changes tonight, apparently having made his point to the Sunderland hierarchy that January investment is desperately needed.

But Dyche, who has taken his newly-promoted side into the top half of the Premier League, believes his opposite number would not thank him for a few words of condolence at the size of the task he faces:

I know for sure that David doesn't want my sympathy among anyone elses.

I'm pretty sure he's tough-minded enough to know the role. He's been doing it for years. He knows the challenges of it, as do I. I'm learning more and more about it.

The Player

Joey Barton made his first appearance during this second spell donning a Burnley shirt in the original cup tie at the Stadium of Light, and he's determined to repay the faith Dyche and his claret club have show in him.

The 34-year-old scored the winner against Southampton at the weekend - the three points which propelled Burnley into the Premier League top half - and said he has been humbled by the welcome he has received since his scarper from Rangers-hell.

Sometimes at football clubs, it just fits. From the moment I've waked into this football club it just works.

I am intent on giving all I can for this cause and when I score, it goes some way to validating the gaffer's faith in me - and the players because they didn't have to accept me back the way they have.

In truth, Sunderland's sorry players could probably use an ounce of Barton juice at the moment. With heads dropping, David Moyes' side is conceding goals again at an alarming rate and any form found in the latter part of 2016 has all but evaporated.

The Pundit

Danny Murphy, who once turned out for Burnley's Lancashire rivals, Blackburn Rovers, has hailed Burnley's home form as the obvious reason behind their success this season:

If the league table was home form, Burnley would be third, it's fantastic They deserve great credit.

That's nothing Danny, if the league table was away form, Sunderland would be joint-third bottom, so this tie is some match-up.

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The Fans

Confidence abounds in deepest, darkest Lancashire. Burnley fans are anticipating the dawning of a glorious second chapter to the season which has started so well, with a cup run to supplement a top-half Premier League finish.

But surely, having a former political spin-doctor as a celebrity fan is a cause for some embarrassment. Even worse, Alastair Campbell was born in the White Rose county of West Yorkshire - alien territory for the Red Rose Lancashire club.

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Much debate amongst the satanic mill dwellers has centred on the gate for tonight. Many were expecting a sub-10,000 figure but the news Sunderland will travel with over 1,500 fans has restored a little optimism that Turf Moor will swell to victory.

Whilst optimism abounds in Burnley, things are so bad on Wearside that the Sunderland Echo are claiming a third round replay is a "cup run",

Match predictions? As you'd expect really, and this from the editor of the Burnley fan site Clarets Mad:

The two Sunderland games I have seen so far have demonstrated to me why the Black Cats will be relegated.

I cannot see anyway we will do anything other than win this one.