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Football

Owen Coyle predicts positive play

22 Oct 2009


Owen Coyle expects an entertaining encounter when Burnley meet Wigan on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League.

In Coyle and Latics boss Roberto Martinez, the match will bring together a pair of old friends that have developed into two of the top flight's most promising young managers.

Having accrued 12 and 10 points respectively after nine league matches, both Burnley and Wigan have prospered against the odds so far this season with their attacking brands of football.

Their managers have a similar eye for the aesthetic and Coyle is expecting plenty of attractive play to be on show at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Coyle said: "I expect there to be a lot of players on the park that will have a positive influence, in terms of trying to do something in the game that excites and pleases the crowd and that will be entertaining.

"At the same time, it will be within the work ethic that you have to help your team.

"I have no doubt that both teams will be going all out to win the match and we have to make sure we are at our very best."

Coyle was full of praise for Martinez's achievements in his short time as a manager, likening the Spaniard's transformation of Swansea City to his own project at Burnley.

"I knew him (Martinez) when he was a player at Wigan," Coyle said.

"Scott Green, who I played with at Bolton, and Roberto were friends so I bumped into him a couple of times, and then I have had a relationship with him since I sold him Jason Scotland from St Johnstone to Swansea when Jason was coming out of contract.

"You only have to look at his Swansea teams and now his Wigan team to know that he likes to play football that is pleasing on the eye and that everyone enjoys. He has a great knowledge of football.

"Roberto built that team and that football club up (at Swansea) and that is similar to what we are trying to do here at Burnley.

"There are a lot of attributes that he holds and I have no doubt that he will continue to improve as a manager and go from strength to strength."

Having taken Swansea from Coca-Cola League One to the brink of the Championship play-offs in a little over two years, Martinez earned a promotion in his own right this summer when he was appointed manager at the DW Stadium.

Since then his Wigan team has pulled off surprise victories at Aston Villa and at home against Chelsea, while Burnley have defeated Manchester United and Everton at Turf Moor.

Both sides have also suffered some heavy losses - particularly away from home in the case of Burnley - but the sense that any team can beat any other in the Premier League has never been stronger.

"It's certainly a competitive league, there is no doubt about it, although I can't really say if it is more competitive than in recent seasons as its our first year in it," Coyle said.

"What I do know is that it is packed with quality, pace and power and if you are not at the top of your game, you will be punished.

"We have found that out a couple of times on our travels, even when we have not played badly, but have switched off at big times and given possession away cheaply. That quality then puts you to the sword."

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