Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest | England)

Wood and Barnes starting back together up front, as Burnley (13th) host Newcastle (11th).

Woodsman with the goal as Burnley prevail 1-0.

Subbed off at 85 mins

Goal here.

15 EPL goals in 2019!

Wood & Barnes upfront as Burnley (12th) travel to Bournemouth (14th).

With only 41% possession Burnley pinch a 1-0 win.

Rodriguez who replaced Barnes with the winner at 89 mins.

Full game for Wood.

Burnley up to 10th.

Next Everton away on Boxing Day.

74 mins (replaced by Barnes) in a 1-0 loss at Everton.

Rodriguez started up front with Wood.

Back starting up front with Barnes, as Burnley host Man U.

Full game in a 0-2 loss. Was 0-1 until 95th min (Rashford with Man U’s 2nd).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXx4Mc7aHAw

Up next Villa at home.

Off the mark for 2020 in the 80th minute as Burnley are 1 - 2 down to Aston Villa. 

Botched at least three good chances earlier, before finally nailing one. Though he wasn't the only culprit as his goal was the 21st attempt for Burnley in the game, and only the first on target.

Finished as a 1-2 home loss in a seriously bad result for Burnley against a struggling Villa side. Clarets are now 4 points above the relegation spots (Bournemouth).

Wood a full game. Barnes subbed at HT for Rodriguez, when Burnley were 0-2 down. Yes as a team 21 shots, but only Wood's goal on target!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/118554380/chris-wood-heads-home-for-burnley-after-missing-a-sitter-against-aston-villa

Clarets have an FA Cup game this weekend. Then a EPL run of Chelsea (A), Leicester (H), Man U (A) & Arsenal (H). Their record against the top teams in the EPL is bad, so that could easily be four losses - and a real threat of the drop.

74 mins before being subbed as Burnley beat Peterborough 4-2 in FA Cup.

Rodriguez with a double. Barnes not in match day squad.

Full game in a not surprising 3-0 loss at Chelsea.

Wood alone upfront. Barnes out injured. Clarets with 35% possession.

FYI - Burnley fielding a starting eleven, of 9 Englishmen, Wood & an Irishman (Hendrick).

9th of the season for Wood (and his 9th in 16 starts) as Burnley turn their poor form around to beat the Foxes in a dominant second half display. Pope saving a Vardy Penalty.

Big win to quell the relegation murmurings. United away and Arsenal at home next will be tough, seperated by Norwich in the Cup. Vital they put a good run together after that from Southampton away, Bournemouth at home and Newcastle away. 

It won't be that tough, trust me :)

Up front with Rodriguez as Burnley visit Old Trafford.

And scores at the theatre of dreams, again. Making a habit of it.

Wood also grabs an assist, he assists a JRod stunner!

Wood with the assist for second goal.

And finishes 2-0 Burnley in front of 73,000.

Great stuff Woodsman.

Apparently 3rd time in 3 years at Old Trafford, that Burnley had had a 2-0 lead. This time they managed to hold on to it.

Their first win there in 58 years.

https://highlightsfootball.net/video/manchester-united-vs-burnley-highlights-3/

Earned his spot in the 6:40 sport after that.

Good article on Wood.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/...

Pretty impressive list he's found himself on:

The top goalscorers in the English Premier League since the 2017-18 season

65-Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

58-Harry Kane (Tottenham), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

55-Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

46-Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)

44-Eden Hazard (Chelsea) *

43-Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

34-Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

32-Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)

31-Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

30-Chris Wood (Burnley), Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)

Wood is such an under appreciated player in the premiership

He is still only 28 and has performed at this level for a while. I wouldn't be surprised if he had one big chance left in him before he gets too old.
Just need the timing to be right in terms of his performances, no injuries and the right club needing a good, proven CF.

That puts a lot in perspective, good read - and he's well on track to break the All Whites goal scoring record too.

He's also a hugely under appreciated sportsman in NZ, which is the whole gist of Tony Smith's article.

There is probably a 100 countries in the world where if they had someone who had banged in 30 EPL goals, he would be a national treasure. Imagine the profile if he was Chinese!

I'm currently in Peru. Here they hero worship Pablo Guerrero. His every move (goals, girl friends, new tatts etc etc) is almost reported daily. Yet no disrespect he left the Bundesliga for Brazil (where he still plays) in 2012. Scored 41 goals in the German top flight, but it's generally considered from what I gather, he didn't fulfil his full potential there. Yet he still remains the most high profile footballer in a country of 32 million.

The Woodsman probably don't care, but in NZ he will likely only be fully appreciated once his career is over. Maybe a long long wait before another Kiwi is scoring goals regularly in the EPL. 

And yeah Smith is right, NZ Football get off your arse and nominate him for NZ Sportsman of the year. 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1220109594401353728

There has always been this perception that because he is a big strong player he is a target man type and doesnt have much in the way of finness or footwork but to me he has always had a really nice first touch and quick feet, hope at some point the pundits stop spouting cliches based on his size and recognise his abilities with the ball at his feet.

I think I read an article that said he's scored the most goals in the premier league with the head though.

Burnley knocked out of the FA Cup, losing 1-2 at home to Norwich.

Wood subbed at 65 mins, when Clarets were 0-2 down. Rare appearance for Vydra.

Doubt Dyche will be concerned. Often a long run in the Cup, can be an unwelcome distraction for teams at the lower end of the table.

Think Wigan who now look likely to be relegated to League One. Norwich's problem now (last in EPL).

Certainly the small home crowd of only 8,000 at Turf Moor, would suggest the Burnley fans also rate EPL status as a higher priority.

Or half of them haven't got back from Manchester yet...

Full game as Burnley draw 0-0 with the Gunners.

In fact Dyche didn't make a single sub.

Burnley go equal on points with Arsenal (31 pts), and are now 7 pts clear of the drop zone.

“CHRISSSS, CHRIS, DON’T BE A FUCKING DICKHEAD. FUCKING HELL, CHRIS” - Sean Dyche ? pic.twitter.com/RcJHSroqy3

— Muddassir Hussain (@muddassirjourno) February 2, 2020

Chris earning the wrath of Sean Dyche, brilliant! ?

Referee Chris.

Comes off, after only 22 mins at Southampton. Hammy apparently.

1-1 when he came off.

Vydra his replacement with a screamer, in a 2-1 win.

Burnley into top half of the table.

Sean Dyche on Chris Wood's injury: "It's a hamstring for Woody. We'll wait and see. I don't think it's bad. We got him off quickly. So we'll see."

thought of chris when adesanya talked about tall poppy syndrome at halbergs. kiwi footballers i know  just wont or dont rate him. Leaves me completely baffled.

Luckily my football mad 13 yr old loves him. He knows what chris is doing over there? 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/119555905/premier-league-chris-wood-hobbles-off-with-hamstring-injury-in-burnley-win-over-southampton