- Burnley have suffered eight defeats on their return to the Premier League
- The Clarets face a crucial run of fixtures which could shape their season
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Vincent Kompany retains the unwavering backing of Burnley‘s board as they battle the club’s worst start to a season in 52 years.
The Clarets, who travel to Everton in the Carabao Cup fourth round, have picked up just four points from their opening 10 matches, Saturday’s 2-1 reverse at Bournemouth an eighth defeat of their return to the Premier League.
They only had fewer points (three) in 1970-71, when they were relegated from the top flight. It leaves them just above rock-bottom Sheffield United, also promoted from the Championship last year, with an uphill battle to stave off relegation straight back to the second tier.
While Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom‘s future remains precarious, with Chris Wilder keen to take back the reins at Bramall Lane, Burnley sources have told Mail Sport that Kompany is safe.
Chairman Alan Pace, the head of owners ALK Capital, afforded Kompany more than £100million reshaping a squad heavily reliant on loan deals that won the Championship with 101 points.
Vincent Kompany retains the Burnley’s support despite a woeful start to the season
Chairman Alan Pace invested heavily in the summer but expects it to take time to gel the squad
Burnley suffered their eighth Premier League defeat of the season against Bournemouth
There is an understanding that the 15 new permanent signings – only two of whom, Jordan Beyer and Michael Obafemi, had been on loan at Turf Moor last term – required time to gel.
Kompany went through a sticky patch during his first couple of months as manager, when replacing Sean Dyche as boss, before turning their fortunes around.
But the Belgian realises that he needs results quickly in an unforgiving division, with four huge games in the next five that could shape their season after Wednesday’s clash with Dyche’s Everton.
Burnley host Crystal Palace and West Ham either side of a trip to Arsenal and the November international break before facing Sheffield United at home. Wolves away follows that and Kompany will need to a set of results from those.
The 37-year-old was unusually distressed at the officiating against Bournemouth, incensed that VAR did not check a late handball by Chris Mepham in the home box as Burnley went in search of a dramatic equaliser.
The PGMOL have already apologised to Kompany this season for decisions that went against them during a draw at Nottingham Forest last month.
