Another milestone for Cov Kid Graham; Big Match Preview.

Byline: Turf Moor Lowdown 

COVENTRY-born Graham Alexander will chalk up his 700th league start when he faces his boyhood club at the Ricoh Arena tonight.

Burnley's vice captain is set to line up as a holding midfielder rather than his usual right-back slot but would dearly love to get on the score-sheet against the Sky Blues.

"There have been a few milestones of late, but if I play it will be great, especially as it is my hometown club, so that will be a bit special," said the Scotland international.

"My first league start was back in 1991 for Scunthorpe at Gillingham on the first day of the season, we got thumped 4-0 and I got booked, so it's gone a little bit better since then!

"Coventry were a top-flight team when I was younger and I wasn't deemed good enough for that standard, which is fair enough, because I probably wasn't at that time. The head of youth at Coventry sent me for a trial at Scunthorpe and thought I could do something at a lower level, and I was taken on there.

"I was obviously a Coventry supporter all my childhood, but I was buzzing to be signed on by anybody to be honest.

"I used to go and watch Coventry with my dad, from being seven or eight, and the 1987 FA Cup Final was the culmination of a lot of hard years supporting them.

"That was a fantastic year, and it was probably my last year supporting them properly because the year after was my last at school and my football took hold.

"The Ricoh Arena is a bit different, I used to love going back to play at Highfield Road, because that is where my memories of being a child and going watching football are. I managed to play there five or six times, and really tried to score, but I never managed it. I was a bit sad when they left, to be honest.

"There are a lot of great new grounds about, but I like the traditional feel of the old grounds, and the history.

"Obviously circumstances change, and it's a great stadium, but it hasn't got the memories of Highfield Road.

"I scored against Coventry for Preston, but they were all at home, and I want to score down there."

Elsewhere in the midfield it could get a bit tasty with Icelandic pair Joey Gudjonsson and Aron Gunnarsson locking their Viking horns, while Chris McCann is playing extremely well for The Clarets this season and more than capable of sneaking on to the scoresheet, having claimed two in his last two games - including Saturday's all important goal to earn a point against Birmingham City.

But the main threat comes up front from high energy Martin Patterson, the club's record pounds 1.3 million signing from Scunthorpe who has scored seven goals in all competitions and links up well with the less prolific Steven Thompson who signed from Cardiff on transfer deadline day.

The bench should include Robbie Blake, former Manchester United youngster Chris Eagles and Jay Rodriguez who has been keeping Ade Akinbiyi out of the match day 16.

Danger Man

GRAHAM ALEXANDER

HUGELY experienced player whose dead-ball skills are always capable of producing something out of nothing.

Age: 37

Games: 59 Goals: 5