Welcome back to season three of this Burnley based adventure, in the previous episode we were sitting atop of the Premier League after 13 matches.  I don’t expect this to continue, however it seems a place in Europe may be a realistic target now.

I pick up a couple more free transfers, another Belgian keeper and an Irish U21 international striker.

Freddy Nee has decided that we’re not big enough for him, so he is dropped to the bench for the game against rivals Leeds.  He comes off the bench to give us a chance but ultimately Leeds hold on in a close game.

After losing to Leeds, Coventry come to the Moor.  Magnus is in fine form and our penchant for getting a player sent off means we can only manage a draw.

We finally get a win on the board away to Sunderland, David James is in fine form between the sticks however Pat Scully, who has been with us since the League two days scores the winner.  We also have the now seemingly obligatory sending off.

We finally get a convincing win at home to Bury, who joined us in the Premier League through the play-offs, Scully P with his second in two games.

It seems Freddy’s negativity has rubbed off on Dangerous, he now seems to think he’s too big for the Clarets.  Ironically we currently sit atop of the Premier League (by goal difference) so we are the current biggest club in England.

Chelsea are struggling this season and despite wanting to leave Dangerous is still, well, dangerous, we edge a close game.

It is the classic game of two halves at Goodison, we dominate the first 45 and take a 2-0 lead into the break.  Everton come back strong in the second half and Big Dunc earns them a deserved point.

Manuel Viard has been on the periphery since wanting to leave for a “big club,” he finally gets his chance and we pocket £1.5 million profit since he joined on a free.

I was just bringing Freddy back into the fold after his outburst and then he goes and gets injured for three months!  Since Super Mario Jardel is still not interested in joining the “best” team in England, I’m a little light on striking options now.

It’s catching!

January 1st, a new year and a new approach to cup football.  Doncaster come to the Moor for the FA Cup third round, we field a strong side however the AI is determined to thwart our efforts to progress, Donny score a 90th minute equaliser!

We travel to Anfield next, it’s an even game in which Ole scores the only goal.

The following game against Spurs seems to be heading the same way as the Liverpool match, until Earthworm pops up with an equaliser.

It’s FA Cup replay time, we head to Belle Vue confident of finally making it through to the 4th round of a competition.  Unbelievable Jeff!

The 4-1-3-2 hasn’t been working of late, so I switch back to the more attacking 3-2-3-2 wide for a trip to Highbury.  Arsenal are on their downward turn by season three and we take full advantage it’s a spirit lifting victory.

Some of our early season mojo is returning we follow up the Arsenal win with a solid performance against Forest.

It’s all going well the following week against Blackburn, until, you guessed it, we get another player sent off!  After that we need our 22 year old captain and centre back Denis Babb to rescue a point at the death.

With Harte’s injury I look for a bit of central midfield cover using the Bene and Hot rule, however Kodjo isn’t interested in talking to us.

Richard Wright was a pain in our ass when we played Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season, he’s not so much of a problem this time round but we still have to hold on for the final couple of minutes.  Vernazza finally scores his first goal for the Clarets, he’s had about 12 disallowed so far this season.

Next up are Man Utd at Old Trafford, we started off the season drawing 1-1 at Turf Moor, holding on for dear life at the end.  This time it’s a different story, forgotten man Michael Cummins gets the first goal and I’m dreaming of what ifs.  However, Kiko, Giggs, Beckham and Baggio have other ideas.  

But then..

I’m so absorbed in life at Burnley I only realise that this is the final match of the episode after I check the table.  It’s tight at the top. We are doing ourselves proud, there is an outside chance at the title, but a real possibility we will get a place in Europe next year.

Come back next week for the final 12 games of the season and the chance to potentially see a little piece of history being made.